Ex-Manchester United star Scott McTominay has opened up about a candid conversation he had with Erik ten Hag before he was sold to Napoli.
Despite being a favorite of the iconic Sir Alex Ferguson and having risen through the Carrington ranks to become a first-team regular, particularly impressing on the international stage, McTominay was sacked this summer to displeasure of his then manager Ten Hag.
Thanks to his status as a homegrown player, the proceeds from the Scot's sales were seen as '100 percent profit' when it came to FFP regulations, and so a move to Naples was made.
Now that he has emerged from trouble in Serie A, scoring three goals but, more importantly, proving to be a capable anchor for Antonio Conte's second team, McTominay has opened up about a conversation he had with the sad, now fired Ten Hag. and the complexity of his decision.
“It was a big decision, but in some ways it was quite simple,” McTominay admitted to BBC Scotland. “On my last day I had to visit everyone, and it wasn't easy to say goodbye. But that's football. That's life.
“I spoke to him [Ten Hag]. He expressed his opinion about the situation. I said, 'Listen, it's my career; I'm here to push myself further'. In this situation, I have to look out for number one and go with my gut feeling about what I want to do in my career, and not let other external factors hold me back.”
That gut feeling has clearly paid off, with McTominay one of the first names on Conte's team sheet in Naples, alongside compatriot and former Chelsea wonder Billy Gilmour.
“It was a mutual decision,” McTominay continued. “It was a case of: there's an opportunity, do you want to go? 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 long before I made the decision, because I knew it was what I wanted, and I will never regret it in my life.
“Of course I know from their side that FFP is difficult. It is not easy for clubs to make a decision on homegrown players, but that was never in my thought process.
“My thought process came here [Naples]seeing the fans and the coach, and hopefully doing really good things. As soon as I have something in mind, I want to do it. That's it. It was friendly. I love that football club so much, they have been my life for 22 years, but I have now moved on. I'm having a great time here.”
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