Scott McTominay reveals frank comment to Erik ten Hag after 'moving on' from Man Utd

Ex-Man Utd midfield ace Scott McTominay is enjoying life over in Serie A with Napoli, developing into somewhat of a cult hero just months after jumping from Erik ten Hag’s ship

Ex-Manchester United star Scott McTominay has opened up about a candid chat he had with Erik ten Hag before being sold to Napoli.

Despite being a favourite of the iconic Sir Alex Ferguson and having progressed through the Carrington ranks to become a first-team regular, impressing particularly on the international stage, McTominay was offloaded this summer to the dismay of his then-manager Ten Hag.

Thanks to his status as a homegrown player, the funds generated by the Scotsman’s sale were seen as ‘100 per cent profit’ when FFP regulations were concerned, and so a switch to Naples materialised.

Now, having rocketed out of the traps in Serie A, scoring three goals but, more importantly, proving a skilful anchor for Antonio Conte’s second-placed side, McTominay has opened up about a chat he had with the sorrowful, now-sacked Ten Hag and the intricacies of his decision.

"It was a big decision, but in some ways it was quite straightforward," McTominay admitted to BBC Scotland. "On my last day, I had to go and see everyone, and it was not easy to say goodbye. But that's football. That's the life.

"I spoke to him [Ten Hag]. He expressed his thoughts on the situation. I said, 'Listen, it's my career; I am here to push myself on'. In this situation, I have to look out for number one and go with my gut feeling of what I want to do in my career and not be held back by any other external factors."

That gut feeling has evidently paid dividends, with McTominay one of the first names on Conte’s team sheet in Naples alongside compatriot and former Chelsea prodigy Billy Gilmour.

"It was a mutual decision," McTominay continued. "It was a case of - there's an opportunity there, do you want to go? I saw the passionate fans, I saw the coach, I saw the players and I saw an opportunity. I took it. I didn't look back. It didn't take me long to make the decision because I knew that was what I wanted, and I'll never have any regrets in my life.

"Obviously, I know from their side that FFP is difficult. It's not easy for clubs to make a decision regarding homegrown players, but that was never in my thought process.

"My thought process was coming here [Naples], seeing the fans and the coach, and hopefully doing really good things. As soon as I put my mind to something I want to do it, that's it. It was amicable. I love that football club to bits, they have been my life for 22 years, but I have moved on now. I am thoroughly enjoying myself here."

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