Scott McTominay continues to thrive in Italy with Napoli and a former England coach has spoken out about why he left Manchester United ahead of his current club's cup clash with AC Milan
Joleon Lescott speaks on In The Mixer
Joleon Lescott knows the reason Scott McTominay didn't thrive at Manchester United
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Scott McTominay didn't have the necessary belief from coaches at Manchester United, says Joleon Lescott. The Scotland international has shone since his move to Napoli in 2024.
McTominay had been involved with United from the age of five and rose through the academy ranks to make his debut in 2017. Under various managers he developed an eye for goal, but the versatile midfielder was played in a range of positions and was never one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Thanks to his transfer value as a homegrown talent, McTominay was sold in the summer of 2024 for a reported £26million, much to the reluctance of his boss at the time, Erik ten Hag.
Since the move, he has won a league title, been named Serie A MVP, and guided Scotland to the 2026 World Cup. A Supercoppa Italiana semi-final against AC Milan now looms, and ex-Manchester City defender Lescott thinks he was never given a chance by coaches at Old Trafford.
"He was scoring goals. He was scoring goals for United and he was doing that when he played in a more advanced role," said Lescott, speaking on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet.
Scott McTominay of Manchester United and Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United, celebrates with the Emirates FA Cup Trophy after his team's victory after the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Manchester United
Ten Hag was reluctant to let McTominay leave
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"It was just that he wasn't allowed to do it every week and I also don't think he was allowed to have a bad game. I think there were times where he would score, do well, stay in the team and then if he didn't do it again, he was coming out.
"I don't think every player has that set balance or is not given the grace of playing badly. I think that comes when you're a homegrown talent though.
"Because for Scotland he's always done it. He did it in spells for Man United, but I don't think he was given the kind of belief from the coaches to go and say, 'You don't have to be Man of the Match every week but you can stay in the team.'"
Scott McTominay of Napoli and Cam Reading during Gran Gala' Del Calcio Aic 2025 on December 01, 2025 in Milan, Italy
The 29-year-old is enjoying life in Italy
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Former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness also thinks that McTominay might have been sold prematurely, arguing that he would currently be United's best midfielder had he stayed put.
"They've spent a lot of money on [Manuel] Ugarte and Casemiro. I got much criticised for saying I thought he was an ordinary Joe when they signed him. I still see him as an ordinary Joe, a very steady player," Souness told the Daily Mail.
"They sold the best one: Scott McTominay. He was better than those two and he's just grown in his job since he's been at Napoli. I understand why you would use Bruno as a six, but then you want to use him as a 10 as well. So, he has a license.
"I still don't like him waving his arms and telling other people what to do all the time. Slightly frustrating. I couldn't have played with him if he was like that."
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