Although not considered a club legend, Scott McTominay has left his mark during a turbulent period for Man United. The Scottish midfielder has played under five different managers during his nine seasons at the “Theatre of Dreams”.
While he may not have helped the Red Devils return to their glory days, McTominay has provided fans with some memorable moments in his 255 appearances since May 2017. One of the standout moments was his goal against Man City to seal a 2-0 win for Man United under Ole Solskjaer in March 2020.
“Scott McTominay has Man United DNA and it’s sad to see him leave. He’s always given 100% to the club and has always brought positivity to the coaching staff and his teammates,” Solskjaer said.
The former Man United boss compared losing McTominay to the times the team said goodbye to Jonny Evans and Danny Welbeck. These are players who came out of the Carrington academy. The Norwegian coach affirmed that McTominay will continue to shine and show his personal qualities at his new club.
Going back in time, Solskjaer did not have full faith in McTominay at first. He did not give the Scot a Premier League start for two months after taking over the team in December 2018. However, when the squad was damaged by a storm of injuries, the 1996-born star got his chance and took it brilliantly.
Under Solskjaer, McTominay was encouraged to play attacking football - something he always wanted from a midfielder. When United travelled to Paris in March 2019 for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, the Red Devils were 2-0 down from the first leg at Old Trafford to PSG. McTominay produced a superb performance in a dramatic 3-1 win that saw United progress.
“That night was probably the best moment of my life. We want more moments like that at the club. We will all work hard to make sure that happens,” McTominay said after the victory in Paris.
McTominay has always had a fighting spirit, determination and never shied away from a challenge. Mourinho once created a special award called “His Player” to honor the Scottish midfielder. The “Special One” has always appreciated McTominay, seeing him as an example for other players.
Yet there was no outcry from fans when news broke this summer that McTominay was leaving Old Trafford. Instead, there was an acceptance that it might be the best thing for both parties, with United getting a fee of up to €30m, while McTominay would get more playing time at Napoli.
That doesn’t mean McTominay isn’t appreciated at United. He’s an important part of the squad, not just a starter, but also a quality back-up option in a number of positions when needed. Fans can understand the board’s decision and will certainly remember one of the players who showed the utmost loyalty to the club.
McTominay has been a consistent United player since joining the club as a 10-year-old. He has grown into a mature, confident and capable player. A move to Napoli could be a turning point in McTominay’s career, similar to how Chris Smalling found his “new home” at AS Roma.
By playing in Serie A, McTominay will have the opportunity to show his talent in a new environment, where he can become an important factor in Napoli's midfield - something he always aspired to achieve during his time at Man United.
