‘It didn’t take long’ – Scott McTominay lifts lid on big decision to leave Manchester United
Scott McTominay has admitted it was a ‘straightforward’ decision to join Napoli in the summer. The midfielder left Manchester United for the Italian side in a £25million deal in August. McTominay has lifted the lid on his move to NapoliGetty BBC SportThe midfielder said it was a ‘straightforward’ decision to leave United[/caption] McTominay had been with the Red Devils for 22 years, having come through the academy before making 255 first-team appearances. Reflecting on the move, the 28-year-old told the BBC: “It was a big decision, but in some ways it was quite straightforward. “I saw the passionate fans, I saw the coach, I saw the players and I saw an opportunity. “I took it. I didn’t look back. It didn’t take me long to make the decision because I knew that was what I wanted and I’ll never have any regrets in my life. As soon as I put my mind to something I want to do it, that’s it. There’s no holding me back.” McTominay scored 29 goals for United as well as winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup before his exit. However, he admits all parties understood his time with the club had come to an end. The Scotland international added: “It was a mutual decision. It was a case of – there’s an opportunity there, do you want to go? “Obviously I know from their side FFP is difficult. It’s not easy for clubs to make a decision in regards to homegrown players, but that was never in my thought process. “My thought process was coming here, seeing the fans, the coach and hopefully doing really good things.” As for his farewell, McTominay explained: “On my last day, I had to go and see everyone and it was not easy to say goodbye. But that’s football. That’s the life. GettyMcTominay spent 22 years with the Red Devils[/caption] BBC SportBut it ‘didn’t take long’ to decide on his exit[/caption] “I spoke to him [Ten Hag]. He expressed his thoughts on the situation. I said, ‘listen it’s my career, I am here to push myself on’. “In this situation, I have to look out for number one and go with my gut feeling of what I want to do in my career and not be held back by any other external factors. “It was amicable. I love that football club to bits, they have been my life for 22 years, but I have moved on now. I am thoroughly enjoying myself here.” Since the move, McTominay has established himself as a key man for Antonio Conte’s side. In 15 appearances in Italy, he has already scored four goals and added three assists. Napoli currently find themselves second in Serie A, two points behind leaders Atalanta after 16 matches.
Scott McTominay has admitted it was a ‘straightforward’ decision to join Napoli in the summer.
The midfielder left Manchester United for the Italian side in a £25million deal in August.
McTominay had been with the Red Devils for 22 years, having come through the academy before making 255 first-team appearances.
Reflecting on the move, the 28-year-old told the BBC: “It was a big decision, but in some ways it was quite straightforward.
“I saw the passionate fans, I saw the coach, I saw the players and I saw an opportunity.
“I took it. I didn’t look back. It didn’t take me long to make the decision because I knew that was what I wanted and I’ll never have any regrets in my life. As soon as I put my mind to something I want to do it, that’s it. There’s no holding me back.”
McTominay scored 29 goals for United as well as winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup before his exit.
However, he admits all parties understood his time with the club had come to an end.
The Scotland international added: “It was a mutual decision. It was a case of – there’s an opportunity there, do you want to go?
“Obviously I know from their side FFP is difficult. It’s not easy for clubs to make a decision in regards to homegrown players, but that was never in my thought process.
“My thought process was coming here, seeing the fans, the coach and hopefully doing really good things.”
As for his farewell, McTominay explained: “On my last day, I had to go and see everyone and it was not easy to say goodbye. But that’s football. That’s the life.
“I spoke to him [Ten Hag]. He expressed his thoughts on the situation. I said, ‘listen it’s my career, I am here to push myself on’.
“In this situation, I have to look out for number one and go with my gut feeling of what I want to do in my career and not be held back by any other external factors.
“It was amicable. I love that football club to bits, they have been my life for 22 years, but I have moved on now. I am thoroughly enjoying myself here.”
Since the move, McTominay has established himself as a key man for Antonio Conte’s side.
In 15 appearances in Italy, he has already scored four goals and added three assists.
Napoli currently find themselves second in Serie A, two points behind leaders Atalanta after 16 matches.
