Ex-United ace lifts lid on special Sir Alex Ferguson chat that inspired World Cup qualification

Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has shed light on a heartwarming gesture from legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scotland international is gearing up for an eventful summer after helping his nation qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. McTominay rose through the ranks at Old Trafford and broke into the first team under former manager Jose Mourinho. Legend has it that Sir Alex personally recommended the player to the Portuguese, backing him for success at Old Trafford. McTominay became a regular feature under Mourinho’s successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, although he continued to divide opinion among fans. Erik ten Hag’s arrival at the Theatre of Dreams in 2022, however, proved to be a turning point in the Scot’s career. The Dutchman opted to cash in on McTominay and signed Manuel Ugarte as his replacement in the summer of 2024. The 29 year old moved to Napoli and has successfully turned his career around. McTominay’s rise in Serie A In his first season in Serie A, McTominay helped Napoli win the league, finishing the campaign with 13 goals and six assists in 39 appearances. That earned him a nomination for the Ballon d’Or and a permanent place in the hearts of fans. Affectionately dubbed “McFratm”, the player has a shrine mural dedicated to him on San Nicola a Nilo Street in the Decumani District of the city. The Scot has been equally decisive this season for the Partenopei, helping them finish second in the league and win the Supercoppa Italiana. McTominay ended his second campaign in Serie A with 14 goals and four assists in 44 appearances across all competitions. Scott McTominay Stats: 25/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Serie A33311031-2,793′ UEFA Champions League8841–699′ Supercoppa Italiana22–1-180′ Italy Cup10—-29′ Total44411442-3,701′ Source: Transfermarkt. The fact that the Scot has flourished in Italy while Ugarte is now a peripheral figure at the Theatre of Dreams suggests that United got this transfer wrong. The player has been linked with a blockbuster return to his alma mater in recent months as well, especially with the Red Devils expected to bolster their midfield this summer. McTominay recently sat down for an interview in which he spoke about a range of topics, including a secret conversation with former United manager Sir Alex. McTominay reveals special Sir Alex Ferguson conversation Speaking to British GQ Magazine, McTominay revealed how Sir Alex reached out to him last September. He said: “I spoke to Sir Alex in September, which was amazing. He called me, and I was extremely grateful that he took the time to speak to me and just ask me about how I was doing and football and stuff like that.” “So it was lovely to speak to him. I was only a young kid when he was leaving [Manchester United], so for him to think of me was extremely special, because he’s the greatest to ever do it, in my opinion.” “It was No Caller ID. I answered and just said “Hello?” because I answer every call [laughs]. I feel like I have to. And he just said, “How are you doing, son?” And so I knew fairly quickly who it was.” “We had a nice catch-up. It was probably more normal than what people would think — just like your friend calling you up, for example, and asking how you’re getting on and stuff like that. But, yeah, it was really special.” “Yeah. It’s probably personal, so I wouldn’t ever want to say anything out of turn. But he’s always had great advice. He’s so iconic that every single word, you just bottle up, and you always try to remember it for future games. And then three months later, we qualified for the World Cup. So the conversation must have inspired something.” Final Thoughts United were left to rue their decision to part ways with McTominay, whose tenacity and eye for goal could have been invaluable to the club. While the Red Devils remain in the market for midfield reinforcements this summer, the player’s return appears unlikely, especially since he will turn 30 in December. Featured image Timothy Rogers via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.