Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has revealed how a ‘perfect’ transfer broke down because of the club’s scouting department.
Benni McCarthy spent two seasons as a coach at Manchester United during Erik ten Hag’s time in charge at Old Trafford.
A former Premier League striker with Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United in the early 2000s, McCarthy was brought in to work closely with United’s attacking players, including Rasmus Højlund and Marcus Rashford.
Known for his positive influence in the dressing room, McCarthy quickly became a popular figure among the squad and was credited for Rashford’s good form during the 2022/23 campaign.
At the end of the 2023/24 season, the South African departed the club to focus on advancing his own managerial career.
McCarthy reveals how ‘perfect’ United transfer broke down
During his time at Old Trafford, McCarthy was the offensive coach and he has explained the full details of United’s chase for Cody Gakpo in 2023. Gakpo was excelling in the Netherlands at PSV Eindhoven and was reportedly one of Ten Hag’s top targets, but he eventually moved to Liverpool instead.
McCarthy has explained how he wrote a detailed profile on the player and how he would be ‘perfect’ for the team, but the scouting department ultimately disagreed with him and that is why a deal broke down for the player.
“Cody Gakpo was the one that we wanted the most and missed out on. I think he was the first player that we sat down and discussed, and decided that he was the player who would fit in perfectly,” the coach explained when asked about a player he wanted to sign at United.
“We knew we could play him alongside Marcus Rashford, when Rashy was really on song in 2022. I think we were so close to getting him. At one stage, it was ours to lose. The agent knew Erik, and there were really good talks.
“The manager asked me to write up a profile for the player and to take it to the scouting department, so they knew my opinion. I watched the player, I made my case for why he would be ideal. He could play on the left, he could work as a false nine. With him and Rashford we’d have been strong down the middle and on the left.
“Then you had Alejandro Garnacho coming through, and we wanted to play him down the right. It would have been perfect.
“Then I was told the scouting department had watched him numerous times and they didn’t rate him. They said the stats weren’t right. For me, with my experience, I know what you need to deliver at a special club. You don’t need stats to tell you that. The naked eye gives you so much more than just stats. Obviously the club have a system, and the system won, so he joined Liverpool and won the league.
“People can say what they like but we tried to bring in great players that would fit. I know the manager always takes the blame, but sometimes the club needs to look at itself. Good players escaped our grasp. Erik knew what we needed.”
Scouting changes happening at United
The scouting department at Old Trafford has been having some major changes since McCarthy’s departure, with head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, heading the changes.
Vivell has streamlined the department, according to recent reports, with there now being just 10 first-team scouts.
United want the director to take ownership of the reduced network after the larger group had years of failure in the market.
This is probably a change that McCarthy would support, even if it is too late for him and Ten Hag.
Benni McCarthy was speaking to betonlinepromocodes.com.
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