Manchester United decision-makers have been made to regret selling players in the past and Gary Neville believes one came back to haunt them.

Neville watched several teammates head for the Old Trafford exit during nearly 20 years with his boyhood club. David Beckham made a controversial move to Real Madrid in 2003 after falling out with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Beckham became a Galactico at the Estadio Bernabeu but he isn’t the only Red Devil to make the switch to the Spanish capital. Six years later, Cristiano Ronaldo secured a dream move to Madrid for a then-world record £80 million.

It’s not just world-class talent who move on, though, as plenty of up-and-coming stars have been offloaded. While some of them justify the decision to sell, others leave the transfer chiefs with egg on their face.

Gary Neville Bemoaned Man Utd Player Sale

United entered a new era in 2024 following Ferguson’s retirement, and there was a clear shift in the club’s transfer strategy along with squad building. There was no longer as much focus on the academy, but rather a consistent desire to sign big names, largely due to their commercial appeal.

One academy graduate who fell victim to this approach was Danny Welbeck, who had caught the eye after stepping up to the senior team. The English forward was still a work in progress but he’d impressed when called upon.

Welbeck found himself behind Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney in the United pecking order. Louis van Gaal’s arrival as David Moyes’ replacement led to a surprising deadline-day move to rivals Arsenal for £16 million.

After the Englishman made the move, Van Gaal explained that “Welbeck doesn’t have the record of Van Persie or Rooney.” That much was true as he finished his Old Trafford spell with 29 goals and 16 assists in 142 games.

While his time at Arsenal didn’t quite live up to expectations, he has become a major hit at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he’s spent the last six years of his career. He joined the Seagulls after a brief spell with Watford and he’s certainly reminded United what they are missing each time he’s faced them.

Neville recalled his stance over Welbeck leaving United ahead of the veteran striker’s move to Chelsea. He spoke glowingly of the 35-year-old while speaking on Sky Sports: “I said ten [12] years ago that Manchester United should never have sold Danny Welbeck. He’s gone away and done brilliantly well. He’s coming into a little cameo at the end of his career but he’s a fantastic player.”

Welbeck managed 51 goals and 18 assists in 201 games for Brighton, helping fire the Seagulls to UEFA Conference League qualification in the 2025-26 campaign. For most of his time at the Amex, the Red Devils lacked firepower, with the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Wout Weghorst struggling in front of goal.

Neville added: “I worked with him obviously as a team-mate, I worked with him with England as a coach and he was fantastic for England. And he’s been good in the Premier League as well.”

Welbeck will be the first player in history to play for Chelsea, Arsenal and United in the Premier League. If Neville had his way, he’d still be at Old Trafford rather than moving to Stamford Bridge.

Michael Carrick Hailed ‘Fantastic’ Welbeck

When INEOS appointed Michael Carrick as permanent coach in May, there was much talk over a potential reunion with Welbeck. That has been ruled out as Chelsea have swooped for one of English football’s most reliable forwards.

Carrick revealed that he still kept in touch with his former teammate ahead of United’s final game of the season against Brighton. He lavished praise on the 42-cap England international: “I still call him ‘my lad’. He’s an old man now, which makes me feel old. Huge respect for him. It’s terrific that he came through here and made a massive impact.”

The United boss added: “For him to go on and have the career he’s had and still be playing so well at the age he is shows his mindset and his attitude and all those things enable you to play to 35.”

Welbeck has stated in the past that he knew he had to leave his boyhood club after spending much of his time on the wing. Given the lackluster strikers that arrived after his departure, most of the Old Trafford fanbase will forever wonder what could have been.

A damning report has exposed a new FIFA scandal that Gianni Infantino must contend with after having already been forced to make a U-turn on his plans to sell World Cup stakes this week.

Football’s figurehead has come under serious fire for his proposal of a ‘£15 billion sell-off’ to private investors. In exchange for allowing them the opportunity to pay billions for involvement in the planning of future World Cups, he offered each of FIFA’s 211 member associations the chance to make £15 million ($20 million) instantly if they voted through his plans. A further £50 million ($66 million) would be given to each association before 2038.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is among the 56-year-old’s most passionate opponents, and has urged European nations to withdraw their support for football’s current leader in the hope that he will either resign or lose an election he was once tipped to win by a landslide next March.

CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and the AFC have since joined the chorus of criticism by releasing statements of condemnation of their own. But while all this goes on, a lesser-known scandal is quietly bubbling beneath the surface – one that once again threatens to drag Infantino’s leadership into the gutters.

Report Exposes FIFA’s Club World Cup Scandal That Goes Unsolved

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

The 2025 expansion of the Club World Cup, which Chelsea won last summer in the USA, was the ultimate brainchild of Infantino’s. However, anger continues to materialise as some of the prize money promised to clubs hasn’t been paid out, according to the Daily Express.

The funds earned by competing clubs is said to have been paid, but £185m of the £740 million DAZN and Saudi PIF paid for the broadcast rights, which were set aside for solidarity payments to clubs that did not compete in the 2025 tournament, remains unpaid.

Initially, the idea behind the scheme was to ensure a proportion of the event’s funding was distributed throughout the football pyramid. The original plan was for £50,000 to be given to every top-flight club in the world, but there is no sign of the payments being made.

Why The Tournament Might Be Scrapped As A Result

Further issues could still arise ahead of the 2029 edition, which still doesn’t have a host, as nothing has been agreed between FIFA and leading European clubs on participation in a future tournament.

A number of nations have expressed an interest in registering a bid for the competition, which switched to a four-year format just last year. That means, at present, the already-controversial tournament could be scrapped – especially if either Infantino’s potential successor has different plans, or the payments for the latest tournament continue to go amiss.

Australia and New Zealand, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and England have all hinted at hosting the competition. However, there is a belief that the most likely hosts will be either Qatar, or the United States, with FIFA reportedly considering giving it to the former as a bid to continue the growth of the sport in the North American nation.

Tyrone Marshall has explained where Manchester United stand over making a third midfield signing with one month remaining in the transfer window.

A third midfielder has been widely expected to join the Red Devils and complete INEOS’ midfield overhaul. The player whom most fans are hoping arrives is Aurelien Tchouameni and the Real Madrid star is of interest.

Tchouameni is one of many names still on Michael Carrick’s midfield shortlist and the club have alternatives in mind. There appears to be one major issue preventing them from swooping for the Frenchman.

Tchouameni May Be Out of Man Utd Price Range

via Reuters

United started their summer transfer business with the £50 million signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea. This was followed Youri Tielemans’ shock acquisition, arriving from Aston Villa for just £35 million.

While INEOS have watched the likes of Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali move for over £100m, they have been reluctant to spend as much money. And that’s why Marshall feels they will struggle to pull off a deal for Tchouameni and will most likely be looking at less expensive options.

Marshall wrote for Manchester Evening News: “I think it’s very likely to happen (third midfield signing), but the reality is there has been no real movement in the last week. United’s view is that they could even stop at two signings, although I wouldn’t read too much into that right now. They are taking stock of the market after signing Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans and by waiting they can see how situations develop elsewhere, notably Aurelien Tchouameni at Real Madrid.”

He added: “But that still feels a very difficult deal to do and I would expect the third signing to be another player in the £30m to £50m price range, RATHER than a big-name, big-money arrival.”

Tchouameni joined Madrid from AS Monaco in July 2022 for £85 million and is believed to be valued at around that fee. He is the most prominent name on United’s radar but appears to be too expensive.

No Marquee Midfielder For Carrick

Going off Marshall’s claim that United will be looking at spending £30-50m, they might not be considering a midfielder who Carrick will rotate. There had been several names presented as this type of addition to the squad when the transfer window opened.

That said, Tchouameni’s French compatriot Manu Kone has been of interest and the AS Roma star is reportedly valued at around £50m. It seems increasingly likely that a third midfielder will be signed but it might not be the marquee arrival fans had anticipated.

Carrick and the decision-makers are pleased with Santos and have been impressed with his performances during pre-season. Tielemans has proven his worth throughout his Premier League career and could prove to be an absolute bargain.