Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has claimed that Scott McTominay never received the full backing of the coaches at Manchester United, a factor which ultimately led to the midfielder's successful departure.
From Old Trafford Outcast to Serie A Star
McTominay, a product of the United academy who joined the club at the age of five, left for Napoli in the summer of 2024 in a deal worth a reported £26 million. The sale went ahead despite the reluctance of then-manager Erik ten Hag, driven in part by the player's value as a homegrown asset.
Since his move to Italy, the Scottish international's career has skyrocketed. He has won a Serie A title, been crowned the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP), and played a pivotal role in helping Scotland qualify for the 2026 World Cup. He now prepares for a crucial Supercoppa Italiana semi-final clash against AC Milan.
"He Wasn't Given the Belief"
Analysing the transformation, Lescott suggested that a lack of consistent faith at United held McTominay back. Speaking on the In The Mixer podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Lescott stated that the player was never afforded the grace to have a poor performance.
"He was scoring goals for United when he played in a more advanced role," Lescott said. "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."
He elaborated that McTominay would often be dropped after a single sub-par display, a pressure not applied evenly across the squad. "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.'"
Souness Backs Lescott's Assessment
Lescott's view is supported by former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness, who believes United sold their best midfielder. Souness criticised the club's subsequent big-money signings in the middle of the park, telling the Daily Mail that McTominay has simply "grown in his job" since leaving.
"They sold the best one: Scott McTominay," Souness asserted. "He was better than those two [Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro]... I understand why you would use Bruno [Fernandes] as a six, but then you want to use him as a 10 as well."
The contrasting narratives are stark. At United, McTominay was a versatile squad player shifted between positions. At Napoli, he has become the undoubted central figure and Serie A MVP, proving the transformative power of a manager's trust and a clear, consistent role.
