Iceland head coach Arnar Gunnlaughsson reveals he is a Manchester United fan who is not ‘proud’ of the club’s decision to sell Scott McTominay ahead of their friendly clash against Scotland on Friday night.
Scott McTominay’s rise to prominence in Italy last season was one of the biggest stories in world football.
Often overlooked and under-appreciated during his time at Manchester United, the Scotland international found a new lease of life in Naples as he led Napoli to Serie A success.
McTominay was voted Serie A’s most valuable player after an incredible debut campaign and he is now considered a legend among Napoli supporters.
Back playing for his country, McTominay’s transfer from United to Napoli has yet again grabbed the headlines, with Iceland’s manager explaining how it made him feel as a United fan.
Photo by SSC NAPOLI/SSC NAPOLI via Getty Images
Photo by SSC NAPOLI/SSC NAPOLI via Getty Images
Iceland manager hails Scott McTominay ahead of friendly
Iceland manager let his thoughts be known when asked about Serie A-winner McTominay facing his side on Friday night.
Arnar Gunnlaugsson unexpectedly announced that he is a United fan who wishes McTominay was still at Old Trafford rather than making waves in Italy.
The 52-year-old manager, who played for Bolton, Leicester City, Stoke City and Dundee United, was disappointed to see McTominay leave United, even though he went on to enjoy a successful season at Napoli.
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“Scotland have some really good players, who have performed spectacularly well,” said Gunnlaugsson at a press conference. “McTominay has performed really well in Naples.
“I am a United supporter and I am not too proud of that at the moment. I was really proud of him when he was playing for us [United].
“United is based on younger players coming through the ranks and progressing so it was difficult to see him go.
“Him going and doing that well in Naples, while we [United] didn’t do so well in the league… that happens in football, so good for him.
“He showed his character and showed a new side to his game. Everyone knew he had goals in him. He’s really difficult to handle in the box.
“That’s something we need to be aware of because he times his runs so well from the midfield. Once a midfielder gets goals and assists, the value goes up and up.”
Gunnlaugsson has been in charge of Iceland since earlier this year and is hopeful of leading them back to the level of 2016, when they famously beat England on their way to the latter stages of the European Championship in France.
McTominay made history with Serie A success
When Napoli were crowned league champions, McTominay and Billy Gilmour became the first Scottish players to win the Serie A title in 120 years.
Napoli won the title with a one-point margin over second-placed Inter Milan, who pushed the title race until the last weekend of the season.
It was an incredible season for McTominay, scoring 12 league goals and registering six assists from central midfield in his first season under Antonio Conte.
Gilmour also joined Napoli last summer on deadline day.
Football historians would have to go back as far as 1905 to find Scottish winners of Italy’s top-flight title when Jack Diment and James Squair were part of Juventus’ first-ever division-winning side.
Player Team
Scott McTominay Napoli
Billy Gilmour Napoli
Jack Diment Juventus
James Squair Juventus
Italian top-flight winners from Scotland
The Italian league has seen some fantastic Scottish players over the years, including Denis Law and Joe Jordan, but none of them were crowned league champions.