'He would be perfect' - Man Utd told they made mistake selling Scott McTominay as Scotland international 'ticks the boxes' for Ruben Amorim's Old Trafford rebuild

The Red Devils agreed to part with a product of their famed academy system when sanctioning a £26 million ($35m) transfer to Napoli in the summer of 2024. McTominay went on to become a title winner and Serie A MVP during his debut campaign in Italy.

As the Scotland international flourished, United floundered in the Premier League and Europa League - leaving them without continental competition for 2025-26. Questions continue to be asked of important squad-building decisions at Old Trafford.

Former Scotland star Kris Boyd has told BestBettingSites: “I think Scott McTominay would be perfect for what Ruben Amorim wants from his players at Manchester United. He wants players with legs who can get up and down the pitch. That’s definitely what he’s got, and he’s got a good size physique as well.

“United produced him so he had that in his DNA, and Amorim must wish he had never left. He’s gone away and shown how good he is, perhaps he felt he had a point to prove too. I think maybe absence has improved his reputation as he’s now showing the club what they’re missing.

“I think McTominay might have needed time to rebuild his career, and I think Amorim wishes he had him in the squad. He ticks the boxes of what Amorim has been signing and wants at United.”

While starring at club level, McTominay has become a talismanic presence for Scotland. Quizzed on whether he could be considered their best player of the millennium, Boyd added: “I think everybody gets bogged down in the here and now, but there’s no denying he’s done exceptionally well, there’s no denying it. I think over Steve Clarke’s time in charge, Andy Robertson has been a great captain, but I think John McGinn and Scott McTominay have been the standout players for Scotland.

“McTominay went to Napoli after leaving United, won the league, has hero status in Naples for life after the season he had.

“Scotland have had good players over the years but haven’t managed to get the national side into major tournaments. We’ve had Barry Ferguson and Darren Fletcher who’ve been excellent two, but McTominay is the best over the last few years, no doubt.”

Lancaster-born McTominay has reached 61 caps for Scotland, scoring 12 goals, and will be hoping to help them reach the 2026 World Cup - allowing FIFA’s flagship event to be graced for the first time since 1998.