“We almost sold him for free in January but now he’s our best player at the moment and yesterday he did what we’ve not seen this season… He’s not leaving this team anymore”: Manchester United’s owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe amazed by ONE United player’s performance

 

BREAKING NEWS ‼️: “We almost sold him for free in January but now he’s our best player at the moment and yesterday he did what we’ve not seen this season…He’s not leaving this team anymore”: Manchester United’s owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe amazed by ONE United player’s performance yesterday, blocks his pending transfer.

May 2, 2025 Goodness

 

 

BREAKING NEWS ‼️: “We almost sold him for free in January but now he’s our best player at the moment and yesterday he did what we’ve not seen this season…He’s not leaving this team anymore”: Manchester United’s owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe amazed by ONE United player’s performance yesterday, blocks his pending transfer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a shocking twist that has stunned Manchester United fans and football insiders alike, club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has personally intervened to block the impending transfer of a player who, just months ago, was on the verge of being offloaded for free. Described as “our best player at the moment” by Ratcliffe himself following yesterday’s match, this dramatic reversal is sending shockwaves through the club and across the football world.

 

 

 

The identity of the player in question is still being kept under wraps officially, but sources close to the club strongly suggest it’s midfielder Scott McTominay, whose incredible resurgence this season—and particularly his standout performance in yesterday’s match—has earned him not just praise but protection from the very top of United’s new footballing hierarchy.

 

 

 

From Exit Door to Center Stage

 

 

 

In January 2025, Manchester United were actively exploring options to offload McTominay. Several Premier League clubs, including West Ham and Newcastle, had expressed interest, while teams abroad saw a potential bargain. His role at the club had diminished, and many assumed his time at Old Trafford was coming to a quiet end.

 

 

 

But football is a game of moments, and McTominay has seized his with both hands.

 

 

 

“He was close to being let go for almost nothing,” Ratcliffe admitted to reporters after the game. “We didn’t see his value back then, but football can change fast. What he did yesterday… I’ve not seen that kind of impact from any of our players this season. He’s not leaving this team anymore. Not under my watch.”

 

 

 

The Performance That Changed Everything

 

 

 

So what exactly did McTominay—or “that guy,” as Sir Jim referred to him in a moment of exasperated awe—do to earn this dramatic change of heart?

 

 

 

Yesterday’s match against Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal was an emotionally charged and tactically demanding encounter. With Manchester United struggling to break down a compact Bilbao side and trailing after an early error, it was McTominay who came off the bench and completely changed the game’s tempo.

 

 

 

Winning key duels in midfield, pushing the ball forward with purpose, and even scoring a crucial equalizer, McTominay displayed the kind of energy and authority the United midfield has been desperately lacking all season. His goal, a thunderous strike from outside the box, reignited United’s fighting spirit and swung momentum back in their favor. He followed that up with an assist and an 89th-minute goal-line clearance that prevented what would have been a crushing away goal for the Spanish side.

 

 

 

It was a complete performance—one that encapsulated determination, leadership, and grit.

 

 

 

The INEOS Influence

 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team officially took control of football operations at Manchester United in early 2024, promising to modernize the club’s sporting structure and prioritize performance over sentiment. Their arrival has already seen significant changes at the executive and recruitment level, with new metrics-driven evaluations and a cold, businesslike approach to player contracts and squad building.

 

 

McTominay, for all his loyalty and hard work, did not initially fit into the new vision. Seen as limited in creativity and inconsistent in form, his departure seemed inevitable. But as is often the case in football, form trumps theory—and McTominay’s recent displays have proved he has more to offer than previously believed.

 

 

 

“We’ve been talking a lot about data and systems,” Ratcliffe explained. “But sometimes, you have to look at a player and say—he’s making the difference when it matters. We’d be foolish to let that go.”

 

 

 

A Statement of Intent

 

Blocking McTominay’s transfer sends a loud message to the rest of the squad: Perform when it matters, and you’ll be rewarded—no matter what the plans on paper might say.

 

 

 

This also marks a shift in the way United may handle transfers under the new regime. In the past, players were often sold off quietly with little fanfare or second thought. But Ratcliffe’s intervention shows a more hands-on approach and a willingness to adapt based on performance, not just policy.

 

 

“This is a meritocracy,” said INEOS Sporting Director Sir Dave Brailsford. “We’re not here to make rash decisions, but we’re also not going to let good talent slip through the cracks. What we saw from [McTominay] was world-class commitment. He earned his place.”

 

 

 

Fan Reactions and Dressing Room Buzz

 

Supporters have reacted passionately to the news. On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #McTominayStays trended within minutes of the announcement, with fans expressing renewed respect for the player.

 

 

 

“From fringe to fortress—Scotty McT is the heart of United right now!” wrote one fan.

 

 

 

Even United players were said to be buzzing about the owner’s praise. Sources inside the dressing room report that McTominay was swarmed by teammates post-game, with many congratulating him on what could be a career-defining moment.

 

 

 

“Scott’s been training like a beast. He deserves all of this,” said one anonymous squad member. “He never gave up—even when he was on the bench or out of favor. That’s what United is about.”

 

 

 

What’s Next for McTominay?

 

With his transfer blocked and the full confidence of both the owner and the fans, the future suddenly looks bright for the Scottish international. Contract renewal talks, previously shelved, are expected to resume soon. And with the summer transfer window approaching, McTominay may now be viewed as a central figure in the club’s plans going forward—particularly if Casemiro or Christian Eriksen depart as expected.

 

 

 

He could even be handed a new leadership role within the squad, especially as United looks to rebuild a core group of fighters willing to bleed for the badge.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

Football narratives are often written in moments of magic and madness—and yesterday at Old Trafford, Scott McTominay delivered both. A player once dismissed as average has reminded the world—and more importantly, his own club—of his value. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s dramatic declaration not only underlines the importance of performance in this new era of Manchester United but also signals a future where no player is underestimated.

 

 

 

Whether McTominay continues this purple patch remains to be seen. But for now, the transfer is off, the doors are closed, and the message is clear: when you fight for the badge, Manchester United fights for you.