SCOTT McTOMINAY left Manchester United in the summer of 2024 to seal a dream move to Naples.
The Scotland hero spent most of his life at the Old Trafford club as a youth player and then first team star, but never managed to establish himself as one of the greats – despite making 255 appearances.
Fast forward a few months, and the Tartan Army midfielder is being immortalised with shrines in his honor — and even pizzas named after him.
The 28-year-old went from being under appreciated in Manchester to a club legend in Naples in just a few months.
His stock has continued to rise since lifting the Serie A title last season and being named Player of the Year — before capping it all off with a Ballon d’Or nomination.
Few could have predicted the remarkable trajectory he would follow so soon after leaving the Premier League.
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But former boss and Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær always believed McTominay possessed the character and ability to reach the very top.
And while he wasn’t always a standout performer at Old Trafford, Solskjær believes the midfielder wouldn’t have looked out of place in one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s great United sides.
Asked by Gary Neville if he was surprised by McTominay’s departure last year, Solskjaer told The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast: “I was almost shocked because you need a core group of local clubs who know the club and get the club, and Scott did.
“I think he’s showed in Italy how good of a player he is.
“He’s a great character with a personality you want around the place and he sets the standards.
“He’d survive when we played, 100 per cent.”
Neville then compared McTominay to another great Scotland international who played with him at Old Trafford.
He replied: “So do you think in our day, the boss (Fergie) would have kept him?
“Would you put him at the same level as Darren Fletcher? It’s probably disrespectful to Fletch because I think he was a level above him.”
Solksjaer quickly hit back: “He was voted Serie A Player of the Year last year and won the league with Napoli, so I think Scott is one of them that you only know how good he is when he’s in your squad.”
McTominay has been at the centre of major debate among the Red Devils fan base — were the club right to let him go?
Solksjaer clearly believes the club SHOULDN’T have sold him, but Roy Keane isn’t so sure as he waded into the discussion.
Keane said: “He definitely warranted a place in the squad, but jokes aside when we talk about squad players, what did Man Utd get for him?
Scott McTominay’s career
Born in Lancaster on December 8, 1996
Joined the Manchester United youth system aged five and signed his first professional contract in 2013
Made his Premier League debut against Arsenal in May 2017
McTominay went on to win Carabao Cup and FA Cup with Man Utd
Made 255 appearances and scored 29 goals for the Red Devils
McTominay joined Napoli in August for £25.7million
Won Serie A title and was named best player in the league in his first season in Italy
Born in England, he qualified for Scotland through his dad who’s from Helensburgh
McTominay was called-up by Scotland in March 2018 and has gone on to become a huge Hampden favourite
He was part of the squad at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024
He won his 50th cap while playing against Germany at Euro 2024
McTominay has scored some huge goals for Scotland, including an injury-time winner against Israel and his famous double in the 2-0 win over Spain in Glasgow
“£25/30million for a squad player isn’t bad, sometimes you’ve got to take a deal like that.”
Scholes then got involved and defended Keane’s comments, stating: “At the time you probably thought it was right for him to move. As much as we didn’t like it because he was a local player, it was the right time.”
Former captain Keane suggested that although McTominay has gone on to enjoy great success in Italy, it doesn’t necessarily mean he would have excelled in the same way at Manchester United.
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He added: “I’m always wary when players go to Napoli – a big club – but it’s not Man Utd.
“He’s done well and good luck to him but I wasn’t hanging my hat on him every week at United.”
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