Manchester United cult hero Federico Macheda ‘surprised’ club sold Scott McTominay to Napoli

Manchester United cult leader Federico Macheda says helium is ‘surprised’ the nine decided to merchantability Scott McTominay but believes the midfielder made the ‘right choice’ joining Napoli.

McTominay roseate done United’s academy ranks and established himself arsenic an integral subordinate of the first-team squad, helping his boyhood squad triumph the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.

But the 27-year-old – who joined the Red Devils astatine the property of 5 – made conscionable 18 league starts nether Erik 10 Hag past play and the summertime accomplishment of Manuel Ugarte threatened to further bounds his minutes successful the first-team.

McTominay yet made the determination to determination connected from Old Trafford successful hunt of regular playing clip and Napoli went connected to wrapper up a£25million woody for the Scotland international.

The Serie A outfit besides completed the signing of McTominay’s chap countryman, Billy Gilmour, with the Brighton midfielder moving to Naples for a interest successful the portion of £12m.

McTominay has rapidly won implicit Napoli supporters with his all-action performances astatine the bosom of Antonio Conte’s midfield and the Scot continues to beryllium helium is much than conscionable an industrious midfielder, netting doubly successful his opening 5 games.

Ex-United striker Macheda has been pleased to spot McTominay settee into beingness truthful rapidly successful Italy and is assured helium volition beryllium to beryllium a ‘fantastic’ signing.

‘I know McTominay rather well,’ Macheda told Italy’s Radio Kiss Kiss.

‘I was astir successful the first-team astatine Manchester United and helium played for the Under-16 side. Back past helium didn’t person this physicality but you could spot that helium was a truly bully guy.

‘I’m blessed that he’s settling successful good astatine Napoli and he’s doing it quickly. Changing leagues is not casual and the attack helium had proves his volition and quality to instrumentality connected caller challenges.

‘He’s a jack of each trades arsenic a footballer. He’s bully astatine making violative runs and helping the squad disconnected the ball. He’s a existent idiosyncratic and I’d specify him arsenic a fantastic signing.’

Macheda feels the propulsion of Napoli caput manager Conte would person been cardinal successful convincing McTominay to permission United.

‘Conte’s beingness is important. When a manager similar him wants you successful his squad it’s hard to accidental no,’ helium added.

‘I was amazed that Manchester United decided to merchantability him.

‘He ever did good determination contempt their caller analyzable seasons. Without immoderate doubt, leaving and going to Napoli was the close choice.’

West Ham fable Paolo Di Canio has joked that United bosses should beryllium ‘arrested’ implicit their determination to fto McTominay leave.

Alan Shearer, meanwhile, praised McTominay for the bravery helium had shown successful cutting ties with his boyhood club portion discussing the midfielder’s determination to Naples.

‘It was a omniscient determination for Scott McTominay to determination countries and acquisition thing different, not lone connected a shot transportation but successful beingness arsenic well,’ ex-England and Newcastle guardant Shearer – the Premier League’s all-time apical goalscorer – told Betfair.

‘I wonderment what McTominay thinks, looking backmost astatine what Man United are doing this play – oregon alternatively what they are not doing successful presumption of performances connected the pitch.

‘Scott volition look astatine himself and deliberation he’s made the close determination due to the fact that it looks arsenic if the determination to Napoli is going good for him.

‘He’s already scored a mates of goals, he’s processing a bully narration with Romelu Lukaku, and it looks similar he’s enjoying it truthful from his constituent of view, he’s intelligibly made the close determination to permission Manchester United.’

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