Manchester United legend Gary Neville has delivered a concerning assessment of the club's attacking options, pinpointing a significant flaw in three of their forwards.
Neville's 'Not Good Finishers' Claim
Speaking on The Overlap, Neville singled out summer signing Bryan Mbeumo, alongside Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount, as players who lack composure in front of goal. This critique comes despite Mbeumo's promising start at Old Trafford following his £65 million move from Brentford last summer.
The 26-year-old Cameroon international, who scored 20 Premier League goals in his final season with Brentford, is currently United's top scorer this campaign with seven goals in 17 appearances. However, Neville believes his finishing remains a major issue.
'I was thinking about Mbeumo, Cunha and Mount during the last game [United’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth],' Neville stated. 'I think that’s actually a pretty good front-three, you wouldn’t like to play against them. But none of them are really good finishers.'
Analysis of Mbeumo's 'Wild' and 'Rash' Play
Focusing on the big-money arrival, Neville described Mbeumo's efforts in the final third as problematic. 'Mbeumo had a really challenging time on Monday night and generally his finishing is quite wild, it’s rash,' the former United captain added.
His analysis was supported by ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who suggested the player's technique betrays a lack of confidence. 'It’s the kind of finishing that suggests he’s anxious but he doesn’t need to be,' Wright said. 'He looked anxious and rash to me. I don’t know if that’s because of the pressure he’s under.'
The statistics for the other players mentioned support Neville's broader point. Cunha has managed just two goals since his £62.5m switch from Wolves, while Mason Mount has scored only seven times in 61 games for the Red Devils.
Positives Amid the Criticism
Despite his criticism of United's finishing in the thrilling 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on December 18, 2025, Neville did find reasons for optimism in the performance under manager Ruben Amorim.
'It was the first I’ve watched United for a long time, certainly since Ruben Amorim took over, that I liked what I saw,' Neville admitted. 'The fans left those games having seen nothing. I thought against Bournemouth at least the fans would have left with a bit of a buzz and would want to go back.'
The result leaves Manchester United sixth in the Premier League, two points off the Champions League places and ten behind leaders Arsenal. Their next challenge is a trip to face high-flying Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday. Unai Emery's side, now third after nine consecutive wins, will be seeking revenge after United beat them on the final day of last season to deny them a Champions League spot.
