Of all the players to leave Manchester United in recent years, few have flourished in the manner Scott McTominay has at Napoli.
Having spent 22 years at United after graduating from their academy, McTominay unexpectedly left in the summer of 2024, a decision that was said to have rankled then-manager Erik ten Hag.
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While United have floundered in the 15-or-so months since McTominay's departure, the Scottish midfielder has gone from strength to strength in the south of Italy.
The 29-year-old not only won Serie A in his maiden season in Naples, but was named the league's Player of the Season having scored 12 goals in 34 games from midfield en route to making himself a hero of the city.
Even if McTominay is an especially spectacular example, several players have thrived after leaving Manchester United even during this difficult period for the club.
It was perhaps when misfiring Marcus Rashford and Antony - both of whose exits from Old Trafford were more acrimonious than McTominay's - began to find form elsewhere that fans began to question whether the issue lies more with Manchester United than the players they offload.
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That is a narrative McTominay has this week strongly refuted.
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Scott McTominay argues against Manchester United claim
Former Manchester United star Scott McTominay sat down for an in-depth chat with CBS Sports' Kate Abdo this week, reflecting on a sensational first year with Napoli.
As he discussed that success, McTominay fought back at any suggestion that his former club, United, were causing more harm to their players than good.
With players like Rasmus Højlund, Antony & Marcus Rashford seeing success after leaving Manchester United…
Is this a trend that Scott McTominay sees as well? 👀 pic.twitter.com/BXLoYbZuAg
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 18, 2025
Abdo pointed that McTominay was one of several players who had found blistering form after leaving United, and contended it pointed to the club being the problem rather than the players.
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However, the Scot would argue against that point, saying that he and some others had not failed at United but rather needed a new beginning.
Yeah [I disagree]. It's just too easy of an excuse to say, 'Oh, they left Manchester United and now they're doing well.'
In my last year, I did well, I scored ten goals and we won a trophy.
With Marcus [Rashford], obviously there was different issues which might have transpired which we won't go into.
However, Marcus is a top player, he's always been a top player. He's one of the club legends, he's scored so many goals for Man United, done so many great things.
Because the spotlight's down directly on you, it makes it seem a lot worse, in my opinion.
Obviously, when players go away and they're playing more games, they're going to have an increase in confidence and feel better about themselves rather than playing less minutes at Man United, for example.
But when you are at Man United, you have to earn those minutes, like Bruno Fernandes, who's done incredible. I think it's too easy to say that.
It's a fascinating point, especially coming from a player who is almost certainly United's most successful export of recent years.
McTominay would hint at the fact that several other players have left United and made minimal impact elsewhere, before defending the club and saying that they did "everything" to help players succeed.
Potentially, yeah, but there's also some players who people don't speak about so much. But there are players that everyone speaks about.
It depends on the individual. For me, I think it's too easy an excuse to blame Man United as a club.
Whenever I was there, they did everything for me. They helped my nutrition, they helped me with training, they helped me tactically, whoever the manager was there.
Everything is put there for you to succeed, it's not like they don't give you certain things that other clubs do. They do.
The myth that 'They go away and they're better players' comes down to confidence. If you're going away and you're playing every single game and you score, and then you score again, and then people start speaking...you feel good about yourself and you want to continue.
That last point is perhaps the most crucial one, with McTominay epitomising the bold confidence needed to rebuild a career after leaving Old Trafford.
There is no denying the immense pressure that hangs over Manchester United players these days, and it feels inevitable that similar issues to these will play out in years to come.
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