“Hed still be there”: National team boss delivers heartbreaking verdict on why United sold their future captain

Confessions from Scotland national team boss Steve Clarke paint a heartbreaking picture of why Scott McTominay really left Manchester United. In the summer of 2024, United opted to cash in on McTominay. INEOS were unmoved by the fine 2023-24 season he had just delivered, scoring seven goals in 32 games. They let him go regardless, allowing Napoli to take him for £25 million. Scott McTominay was reborn in Italy That move to the Serie A side ended up proving a masterstroke, as McTominay was reborn in Naples. From being just another unremarkable midfielder, he became a standout, having a significant influence on Napoli’s attacking play. His 12 goals and four assists in the 2024-25 season played a key role in Napoli lifting the Scudetto. Following his brilliance in the 2024-25 season, McTominay went on to claim the Serie A Player of the Year award, earn a place in the Serie A Team of the Season, and receive a Ballon d’Or nomination. Man United return links But that was not all. He was quickly linked with a Premier League return and, intriguingly, The Red Devils found themselves among the clubs eyeing a move to bring him back. He never returned, though, remaining at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Despite injury struggles last season, McTominay still produced another decent campaign by any measure, with 10 league goals and three assists in 33 games. For a player a former United interim boss once labelled a future captain at the club, the Scotland international has since become a superstar. Had United fans shown more patience with him, as Clarke’s words imply, they could well still be reaping the rewards of his brilliance. Fans forced him out “People think his story is amazing, but he’s just another example of social media critics,” Clarke told Telegraph Sport. “He played at Manchester United, and every manager who went in always picked him. “Sometimes he wouldn’t start. There would be games when he’d come off the bench, but he was always involved and always playing minutes. “Maybe if he had the same backing and support from the social media keyboard warriors at Manchester United, he would still be there and be a key player for them.” It is disappointing that fans let down a boyhood United star who knew nothing but the club, having joined as a five-year-old. Ultimately, McTominay has already moved on, and nothing can be done about that. What fans can do, however, is learn to back a player once he pulls on that badge. Doing so should give these players the confidence to fight tooth and nail for the shirt. 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 Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.