In a recent interview with a former Red and academy graduate, they were questioned on the negative impact the environment of the club has supposedly had on new players.
Following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, there has been a commonly recurring theme of a number of big-money signings failing to make an impact at Manchester United, with names such as Alexis Sanchez, Antony, and Angle Di Maria, to name a few.
Despite there being several factors at play as to why that is the case, Man United being at fault for these players ultimately failing at the club, has become a narrative that has been heavily peddled in the media over the past decade now.
Defending United in this case is not made easier with former signings often going on to have a significant upturn in form once leaving United, which is then again used as evidence for this narrative.
However, the player who has arguably benefited the most from leaving Old Trafford has recently come out in defense of the club and its environment when questioned in a recent interview.
McTominay hits back
In a recent interview with Kate Abdo conducted by CBS Sports Golazo, Scotland international and former United midfielder Scott McTominay was questioned if and why it is players tend to improve once leaving Man United.
In response to this, McTominay came out in strong defence of the club and its environment, and be quoted as saying:
“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.”
McTominay then goes on to seemingly reference that perhaps the pressure of playing for United is the main factor for signings failing, as well as referencing players who have still succeeded regardless.
“When you are at Man United, you have to earn those minutes, like Bruno Fernandes, who’s done incredible,” he added.
“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.”
McTominay the perfect example
After departing from United in the summer of 2024 for Napoli, where he would then go on to win the league and Serie A MVP in his debut season, and being universally recognized as one of the best midfielders in Europe, after only really being considered a squad player at United the season before.
However, despite this, McTominay still had nothing but good things to say about the club, speaking on the platform the club provided for him, he further went on to say:
“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.”
It is refreshing to see ex-players in the media coming out in defense of the club, when many others in recent times have failed to do so, with players such Antony and Jadon Sancho seemingly throwing strays at the club since their departures.
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