Scott McTominay transfer exit slammed as 'biggest mistake' by ex-coach as Scotland star lands new €28m teammate

The 28-year-old Scottish superstar ended his 22-year association with the Red Devils on deadline day last summer, joining the Italian giants in a deal worth around £27.5million alongside fellow Scotland international Billy Gilmour, who joined from Brighton on the same day.

A revelation in his debut campaign at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, he bagged 12 league goals as Antonio Conte’s side won the title, with the midfielder breaking Denis Law’s 63-year record for the most goals scored by a Scotsman in a single Serie A season in the process.

However, former Manchester United first team coach Benni McCarthy, who worked with McTominay during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons under ex-boss Erik ten Hag, believes the decision will now be looked back on as one of the most ill-advised transfers in the club’s recent history, claiming it should have never been allowed to happen.

“There are different reasons why you sell homegrown players sometimes,” McCarthy told betonlinepromocodes.com. “When they go, the profit lets you sign more players. Having said that, it was one of the biggest mistakes in football to let him leave. He was born to play for United. Maybe he wasn’t the most technical, but he had fight, and I think it’s what they will get back with Matheus Cunha.

“Scotty was a player that you look for in a dressing room to get you where you want to be. To let him go for what was a small transfer fee was a big shame. I think everyone at the club regrets that decision. For me, with my experience, I know what you need to deliver at a special club. People can say what they like but we tried to bring in great players that would fit. I know the manager always takes the blame, but sometimes the club needs to look at itself.”

Meanwhile, McTominay looks set to welcome a new teammate to Naples this summer after the Serie A giants “agreed” a deal with PSV Eindhoven for highly rated winger Noa Lang. According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the two clubs have “exchanged documents” and settled on a €28million package, which includes sell-on clause. Lang is said to have been offered a long-term deal, and will now jet off to Italy to complete a medical.

Sign up to The Scotsman’s daily football newsletter to get unrivalled Scottish football news and analysis - subscribe for free here.