Why Manchester United Made a Mistake by Letting Scott McTominay Go

Scott McTominay has long been regarded as one of the few Manchester United players who truly gave his all in every match. However, his transfer to Napoli is a decision that is likely to linger in the minds of those at Old Trafford.

It seems that the management at United opted to let him leave, believing they had stronger midfield options available at that time.

At just 28 years old, the Scottish international has plenty of time left in his career at both the club and national levels, assuming he can stay injury-free.

For a fee of £25.7 million, the transfer was a steal for the Partenopei, though making the switch was not an easy choice for him after spending 22 years with the Premier League giants.

“It was a significant decision, that’s for sure. It was a massive step for myself, my family, and my friends,” he reflected at the time.

“In moments like this, you have to ask yourself, ‘Do I want to do it? Absolutely,’ and just go for it. No looking back. I’ve never regretted anything in my life or my career, and I plan to keep it that way.”

“I aim to make my career a success, and I’m determined to push myself to be the best footballer and person I can be.”

“With fantastic people surrounding me, the stress in my life is minimal. I have a wonderful family, amazing friends, and a lovely girlfriend who supports me greatly.”

“Moving abroad and settling in isn’t easy, but to be fair, the process has been quite smooth, thanks to how much the Italian people have assisted me in settling into my new home and with everything I need—be it a car or taxi. I’m truly grateful for their help.”

McTominay’s impressive contributions at Napoli

With only three points separating Napoli from the Serie A leaders, Inter, it’s an opportune moment to evaluate McTominay’s impact for both his club and country this season and to consider whether he made the right choice in hindsight.

Out of 34 matches for Napoli across all competitions in the 2024/25 season, he has started 31 games. Scoring nine goals, he boasts a commendable ratio of about one goal every four matches from midfield.

His tally is notably impressive, especially considering that his seven league goals are second only to Romelu Lukaku’s ten at the club.

Only three players at Napoli have logged more Serie A minutes than McTominay’s 2,272, and the fact that he has accumulated only three yellow cards thus far is a personal achievement for the combative midfielder.

In terms of passing, McTominay has completed 592 of his 699 attempts, resulting in an impressive success rate of 84.7%, ranking him in the top ten in this category. This showcases the faith manager Antonio Conte has in his ability to retain and control possession.

Notably, McTominay leads Napoli in the total number of duels contested, with 307—41 more than the next highest player, Frank Anguissa.

His 81 aerial duels rank third in the squad, while his 108 ball recoveries place him fourth in that particular area. With 35 clearances and 20 successful tackles from 36 attempts, he exemplifies the all-round capabilities that Manchester United let slip away.

While his performance for Napoli is certainly commendable, how does he measure up with Scotland?

For starters, he was one of only six players to feature in all six matches of this season’s Nations League, where Scotland narrowly missed out on qualifying for the quarter-finals by just a single point. He also finished as joint top-scorer for Scotland with two goals, level with John McGinn.

During the group stages, both McTominay and Billy Gilmour hit the woodwork.

McTominay contributed to two of Scotland’s four rapid breaks during the competition, and his shooting accuracy of 66.7% was only surpassed by McGinn, whose two shots resulted in two goals.

His pass completion rate of 89.4% is slightly below Scott McKenna’s 93.2%, with McKenna completing 136 of 146 attempts compared to McTominay’s 135 from 151.

Similar to his club form, the 28-year-old is heavily involved, having participated in 53 duels—just one less than Gilmour and Lyndon Dykes, who tops that category with 54.

He is credited with winning possession 26 times, the third-best figure in Steve Clarke’s entire squad, with 12 of those recoveries coming in midfield, just shy of Anthony Ralston’s total.

With 10 fouls won and only one yellow card received, it demonstrates that he is a player willing to engage physically without overstepping the mark.

When challenges arise, McTominay rises to the occasion

McTominay’s presence on the field is essential, as he is of little use if sidelined. His maturity at all levels may explain why he generally manages to avoid trouble.

Putting this data in perspective reveals what many Scotland supporters have likely known all along: when the pressure is on, Scott McTominay excels.

While calling him the team’s all-action hero might be a stretch, there’s certainly no other player in the squad whose all-round performance metrics match his.

Regular game time at Napoli will have undoubtedly enhanced his consistency at both club and international levels, further highlighting Manchester United’s puzzling decision to sell McTominay instead of integrating him into their starting line-up.

As the atmosphere at the Theatre of Dreams shifts and players seek leaders—something they clearly need more of now—United had a proven leader within their ranks but allowed him to slip away.

This leads one to believe that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the club’s other decision-makers must feel frustrated upon witnessing McTominay’s significant impact since his departure from the club, serving as yet another crucial lesson moving forward.