The Man Utd legend has claimed McTominay was hamstrung by his partnership with Fred as he chases the Serie A title with Napoli.
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McTominay enjoying success with NapoliLeft Old Trafford last summerWas often made scapegoat by fansFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Former United midfielder Keane has claimed McTominay wasn't given the credit he deserved during his time at Old Trafford before leaving for Napoli last summer. The Scotland international enjoyed his best goalscoring campaign in England during the 2024-25 season, netting ten times in all competitions, but that wasn't enough for the Red Devils to want to keep him, with Antonio Conte recruiting the 28-year-old at the end of August.
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McTominay has helped Napoli claim a one-point lead over Inter at the top of Serie A with 11 league goals, but was previously a much-criticised figure at United. The midfielder often partnered Fred in the middle of the park under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a combination that struggled against elite opposition, and the pair were frequently the focus of frustrated fans as the Red Devils spluttered season after season in the Premier League.
WHAT KEANE SAID
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane said: "What didn't help Scott was it was him and Fred together. It just wasn't a good combo. 'I know Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] praises both of them – which is beyond me – I always thought there was something in Scott. He had more than Fred going on, but as a partnership it didn't work, it wasn't happening, United weren't competing in midfield.
"It tarnished him a little bit, 'McFred' wasn't it. He's added to his game, to be fair to him. He's always had a goal in him but he's got that up to another level. If he wasn't scoring the goals at Napoli we wouldn't be talking about him. But you can't keep talking about players who leave a big club and say we should have kept them. You can't keep everyone. I think McTominay could have been in the group, 100%. But playing every week? I'm talking about the players you need to get United back to the top. They haven't brought in better which is the problem for the club. United's recruitment has been that poor that you still talk about former players."
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MCTOMINAY AND MAN UTD?
Both McTominay and United will be focused on finishing the season with silverware. Napoli know wins against Parma and Cagliari will seal the Serie A title, while Ruben Amorim can scoop silverware in his first season with the Red Devils if they beat Tottenham in Europa League final.
