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Scott McTominay has opened up about his Manchester United career in a revealing interview, admitting he was often misprofiled and undervalued during his time at Old Trafford.
The 28-year-old midfielder left United last summer to join Napoli and has since gone from strength to strength in Serie A.
But while he’s embraced Italian football and culture, McTominay has shown a striking level of honesty and maturity when reflecting on his time with the Red Devils.
McTominay came through United’s academy and made over 250 appearances for the club, winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his tenure.
Despite his achievements, he often found himself on the periphery of the squad, especially in the wake of new high-profile midfield signings each summer.
“There was always someone new coming in,” he told The Athletic. “Pogba, Eriksen, Casemiro… and often they weren’t even exactly what people thought they would be. But I always fought back. I always believed in showing my worth.”
The Scotland international believes he was often asked to play roles that didn’t suit his strengths.
“When I got into the first team, I was quite misprofiled,” he explained. “My strengths have always been getting into the box, scoring goals, being a problem in there. But I was being used as a No 6 or even a centre back. That’s never really been my game.”
However, he stressed that he held no grudges towards United’s coaching staff for the roles he was asked to fill, acknowledging the difficult realities of trying to break through at a top club as a young player.
“When you’re 20 years old and you’re playing for Manchester United, you’re not going to knock on the manager’s door and say you expect to start ahead of Paul Pogba. You just have to wait your turn, earn your minutes, and be ready.”
The midfielder’s resilience became a defining trait at United. Despite being regularly displaced by incoming stars, McTominay frequently battled his way back into the starting lineup by the middle of the season.
His experience also reflects a broader issue faced by homegrown players at big clubs—being seen as eternal prospects rather than finished articles.
“It’s true,” he said. “A lot of homegrown players are judged more harshly. Your growing pains are remembered. You’re always seen as incomplete. But it’s Manchester United. You have to be ready. Fans won’t tolerate anyone who isn’t.”
Despite the challenges, McTominay looks back on his United career with pride and gratitude.
“I was fortunate to play 250 games, to win trophies, to be a part of that club. But I wanted more. You always want to win more.”
Now thriving under Antonio Conte in Naples, where he’s been nicknamed “Braveheart” and embraced as a leader in the dressing room, McTominay is finally being judged for what he is rather than what he isn’t.
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