Scott McTominay’s journey from an underused Manchester United academy product to a national hero for Scotland—and a star in Naples—has been one of the most dramatic transformations in European football.

The midfielder produced a stunning overhead kick in Scotland’s 4–2 victory over Denmark on Tuesday night, a goal that sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup. It was the latest chapter in what has been an extraordinary 18-month rise since leaving Old Trafford.

Now 28, McTominay has already lifted the Serie A title in his debut season with Napoli and has played a central role in guiding Scotland to their first World Cup in almost three decades. His form inevitably prompts the question: did Manchester United let him go too soon?

A Fresh Start in Naples

McTominay wasted little time proving his worth in Italy. Under Antonio Conte, he became a key figure in Napoli’s 2024/25 Scudetto-winning side, making 34 league appearances and scoring a personal-best 13 goals in all competitions. Usually deployed in a midfield three, he offered far more than just attacking output.

He finished second in Serie A for duels won (208) and regularly produced decisive moments—five of his goals were match-winners. His late-season surge, which earned him Flashscore’s Player of the Match award in five of the final seven league games, was crucial to Napoli’s title push.

That impact saw him crowned Serie A’s MVP, the Italian equivalent of Player of the Season. He has already added four more club goals this campaign and carried his form onto the international stage, contributing two goals and an assist during Scotland’s World Cup qualifying run.

His overhead kick against Denmark only reaffirmed what recent months have made clear: McTominay is playing the best football of his career. Hard to imagine, given how recently he was deemed surplus at Manchester United.

Manchester United: A Missed Opportunity?

United’s struggles have been well documented, even if the club managed to collect a few trophies in the process. McTominay featured in their 2023 EFL Cup triumph over Newcastle and the 2024 FA Cup final win against Manchester City. He also showed signs of being a big-game player, with standout moments such as a goal and assist in the 4–3 FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool, as well as match-saving goals against Brentford and Chelsea.

Despite this, he never secured a regular starting role. Erik ten Hag often used him as an impact option, and McTominay found himself competing with Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and emerging star Kobbie Mainoo for minutes. Without consistent game time in a struggling side, he stalled.

It’s therefore difficult to argue that United made a clear mistake in selling him—at least based on the player he was at the time of his departure.

Would He Have Thrived Under Amorim?

McTominay left Old Trafford late in the 2024 summer window, just missing the arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim. In hindsight, that may have been a blessing. United slumped to a disastrous 15th-place finish last season, and McTominay did not start any of the first four games before his exit.

At Napoli, Conte immediately found a role that suited his strengths, placing him in a more aggressive, forward-driving midfield position. Amorim’s preferred system, however, uses a different structure. While McTominay could have been tested as one of the No.10s, the signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha suggest that profile is not what the manager wants.

Keeping him may not have led to the version of McTominay we see today.

A Move That Benefited Everyone

Ultimately, his career had stalled at United. The transfer gave him the fresh environment he needed, while United gained pure profit on a homegrown player—important for meeting PSR requirements.

Now, with the team showing signs of improvement, Cunha and Mbeumo contributing well, and Casemiro finding form again, the move appears to have worked out for both sides, even if it didn’t feel that way at the time.

What’s indisputable is that McTominay has rebuilt himself into a leader, a match-winner, and perhaps one of Scotland’s most influential players of the modern era.