Scottish stat Scott McTominay left Manchester United in the summer of 2024 and has since gone strength to strength for his new club Napoli
Chris Burns Senior Sports Writer
10:41, 21 Nov 2025
Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay once demonstrated his humble nature after claiming it was a “huge honour” to receive praise from Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Napoli midfielder scored an impressive opening goal in Scotland’s 4-2 victory over Denmark on Tuesday as Scotland reached the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
The 28-year-old’s stunning overhead kick capped off an incredible year for the midfielder. McTominay won the league title in Serie A, having moved to Italy from United in 2024 and found himself nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
While United deemed him surplus to requirements, the Scottish star’s performances may be causing United to look back in regret at selling McTominay.
Such was his standing at United as a youngster, with McTominay joining the club as a five-year-old, Sir Alex believed Scotland’s talisman would go on to achieve great things at Old Trafford.
“Scott McTominay is now emerging as one of Man United’s big players,” Ferguson told the Scottish FA in 2021. “When you watch Man United pick their team for a big game, McTominay’s name is in it. He’s a good character, a great trainer. I know a little bit about the boy and I think that’s the background.”
He added: “McTominay is of a similar type to Darren [Fletcher] – long, lanky, good winner of the ball and a good turn of pace going forward, a great attitude to the game. All these attitudes that Darren Fletcher had, he’s got them.
“Even if you go back to my time with Darren, I very seldom left him out of big games. McTominay is going forward on those guidelines that Darren pursued for a long time at United.”
On receiving the high praise from Ferguson, McTominay displayed his grounded nature, saying: “My dad was telling me. It’s obviously such a huge honour to be spoken about by someone like Sir Alex, never mind the nice things he was saying about us and Scotland.
“For me, it’s a chance to keep pushing and a chance to not stop pushing forwards, hopefully making everyone proud of me.”
After Sir Alex was taken ill in November 2018, needing hospital treatment, McTominay also spoke highly of the iconic former United boss.
Following Scotland’s victory over Israel to reach Euro 2020, he said: “That was one of Scotland’s most important victories and it’s dedicated to Sir Alex. Whenever I see him at the United games, I speak to him. He’s always up for a chat with me.”
McTominay departed United in August 2024 for £25.7million. The United manager at that time, Erik ten Hag, suggested he would have preferred to retain the Scottish star at the club.
“It is a little bit mixed,” said Ten Hag when asked about McTominay being sold. “I am very happy for him, but it is mixed because I wouldn’t prefer to lose him. He is Manchester United in everything. He was so important for Manchester United.”
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2025-11-21 10:41:33
