Discarded Man Utd duo show up Ruben Amorim as Red Devils woes worsen

Ruben Amorim may well be wishing Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku were both still part of his Manchester United squad.

The former Red Devils duo were each on the score sheet as Napoli blazed to a dramatic 3-2 win at Atalanta on Saturday night. The result temporarily lifted Antonio Conte's side six points clear at the top of the Serie A standings, with McTominay and Lukaku proving that - in their case, at least - the grass is indeed greener on the other side.

Both players left Old Trafford in recent years under controversial circumstances. Lukaku's 2019 exit to Inter Milan came amid a wave of criticism, and he later suggested he and other United players had been made a scapegoat, while many fans voiced displeasure after academy product McTominay was sold last summer.

The Scotland international has been a particular success story under Conte since moving to Naples. And his blistering finish to put Napoli 2-1 ahead in Bergamo - his sixth goal of the season - only incensed some United fans further, given their struggles this season, with the club sitting 12th ahead of Brighton's visit on Sunday.

"At some point this fanbase needs to have a real conversation about how everyone who leaves goes on to improve at another club," wrote one angry supporter before predicting the cycle would repeat. "I suspect that conversation will begin when [Marcus] Rashford is banging in 25 goals next season for someone else and the ones who drove him there are whining."

Responding to a video of McTominay's latest super finish, another enraged follower said: "How the f*** was he allowed to go? Mental." And a third chimed in: "Scott McTominay has gone from a relegation battle with Manchester United to potentially winning Serie A with Napoli. Has there ever been a bigger upgrade?"

Lukaku rose high to head home the match-winner in the 78th minute, though second-place Inter have a game in hand at present. The Belgian netted a decent return of 42 goals in 96 appearances for United, with many convinced he receives undue criticism, but the 31-year-old is making up for lost time as he targets his second Scudetto.

Seeing the player shine once again in Italy will smart that much more given United's attacking struggles this season. Lukaku fits precisely the profile of experienced striker United could do with to guide the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, and some may feel his talent was wasted at Old Trafford.

One fan said the 31-year-old is "10 times better than what we have right now." Another wrote: "Honestly, one of the greatest Serie A centre forwards in my lifetime. Gotta give Romelu his flowers, man. Top-end finisher."

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