In the final round of the European World Cup qualifiers, the Scottish team defeated Denmark with a thrilling 4-2 and overtook their opponents in the standings, heading straight to the 2026 World Cup.
In the 3rd minute of the game, Scottish midfielder McTominay gave the team the lead with a shocking overhead kick. After leaving Manchester United, McTominay has made significant progress. He also won the Serie A season MVP last season.
In this regard, "Manchester Evening News" reporter Steven Railston wrote an article today: Although there were discussions among fans on whether Manchester United should keep McTominay at that time, and Manchester United will still miss him in some aspects, from a factual and logical perspective, it was the right decision for him to leave Manchester United.
The reporter stated in the article:
The praise McTominay received from Naples and the Scotland team was something he did not have during his time at Manchester United, and it was Manchester United that trained him from the youth training period into the player he is now. His stunning goal against Denmark wasn't even a surprise as it's the kind of ball that has become a showcase of his quality - and the stories about him since leaving Manchester United have been fantastic.
During his time at Manchester United, McTominay was a quality player who fulfilled his desire to play for his childhood dream team and also played in the Champions League, but since his move to Napoli he has been promoted to another level.
Manchester United made the right decision to sell him. His transfer fee brought "pure profits" to Manchester United, helping the team offset the signing expenditure that summer.
The second point is: If McTominay stayed at Manchester United, he would not reach the current level. He needs a fresh start and a place where he can be a key player. He grew up with responsibility for club and country but never became a regular at United, a team that should theoretically have more talented players.
The last point is: Even if McTominay stays at Manchester United, he is likely to want to leave the team after Amorin takes office. He was unable to integrate into Amorim's system and had to come on as a substitute. Menu is an example of a player who couldn't play because Amorim didn't think he was the right player.
Manchester United signed Mbemo and Cunha as the main players at No. 10 this summer, and McTominay will be ranked behind them. If he is seen as a deeper midfielder, he will also be moved further down the pecking order.
It is understandable that some fans will think that considering McTominay's current success, Manchester United should have kept him in the first place, but logically, it is the right choice for both parties to part ways.
Manchester United still miss McTominay in some ways. Multiple sources at Carrington over the past few years have praised his character and his interaction with staff and young players on the training ground. He is a leader and knows the team well.
He had some wonderful moments while playing for Manchester United, including his performance against Paris in the 2019 Champions League, his goal against Manchester City in the last game before the epidemic, and of course his brace against Brentford in Manchester United's last game.
But McTominay had to leave Old Trafford and truly spread his wings.
