Erik ten Hag appears to be at the point in his Manchester United reign where every single thing that happens seems to blow up in his face. And that includes the sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli.
As the Red Devils boss tiptoed ever closer to the brink following disastrous performances against both Tottenham Hotspur and FC Porto, Ten Hag suffered further ignominy in the sight of a player he was keen to keep at Manchester United performing heroics in his new surroundings.
After United agreed to sell Scott McTominay to Napoli for £25 million in August, Ten Hag bemoaned the Financial Fair Play pressures that necessitated the departure of a popular, increasingly-influential homegrown talent.
And the sight of McTominay opening his Napoli account in the Coppa Italia, grabbing a first Serie A assist over the weekend, and most recently striking against Como after just 25 seconds on Friday night will not have improved Ten Hag’s mood a jot.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
McTominay a Napoli ‘idol’ after Manchester United sale
Napoli legend Marek Hamsik tipped McTominay to emulate his impact at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona a few weeks ago. As the record goalscorer and appearance maker at the Partenopei, that felt a little outlandish.
But, while McTominay will not match Hamsik’s tally of 520 games and 121 goals in a hurry, the Scotland international is already threatening to pull up a pew alongside the mohicaned maestro in the pantheon of modern-day Napoli heroes.
“He is already an idol [at Napoli],” Ciro Ferrara, another Napoli legend, said after Antonio Conte’s Scudetto-chasers defeated Como 3-1.
“Napoli suffered in the first half. Como played a great game.
“[But McTominay] provides quality, quantity… He has great desire. And the people of Naples have already taken him under their wing.
“He has presented himself in a great way. He has particular characteristics because he starts as a central midfielder but then you find him as a striker next to [Romelu] Lukaku. This double version of his allows him to shoot many times.”
McTominay sends emotional message to Napoli fans
Not everyone has been particularly enamoured with McTominay in the sky blue of Napoli.
Frustrations that will feel eerily familiar to Manchester United supporters emerged this week, reporter Enrico Fedele arguing that – for all the box-crashing talents McTominay provides – the Carrington graduate leaves Napoli a man light in midfield when pushing up into the number nine role.
But if Conte can balance the rough with the smooth in the way Ten Hag never really managed, then there may be few limits to what McTominay can go on to achieve in a league which appears tailor-made for his physical gifts and penalty-area storming prowess.
“How am I settling in Naples? I can’t imagine how to thank the people who welcomed me to Naples!,” an emotional McTominay told a press conference after providing a ‘goal contribution’ in a third straight Partenopei appearance.
“I try to play my best to thank them.
“We are not thinking about (the title at this stage]. It is important to win, but there is still a lot of work to do.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
