Rooney Makes Case for McTominay's Old Trafford Return as Scotland Midfielder Thrives in Serie A

Wayne Rooney has left no stone unturned in his criticism of Manchester United's decision to let Scott McTominay depart, insisting the Scotland midfielder represents precisely the type of player the Red Devils ought to be chasing now rather than having shipped out in 2024.

The 29-year-old academy product accumulated 255 appearances for United between 2017 and 2024, contributing 29 goals during his time at Old Trafford before being deemed surplus to requirements. His £25million transfer to Napoli proved a masterstroke, with the midfielder claiming a Serie A title in his debut campaign under Antonio Conte whilst establishing himself as a genuine attacking threat.

McTominay's tally at the San Paolo now stands at 27 goals across 80 appearances—a transformation that has not escaped Rooney's attention. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the United legend articulated his astonishment at the club's handling of the situation.

"I couldn't believe Man United let him go when they did because he obviously works extremely hard," Rooney reflected. "At the time they let him go, he was actually one of the players who you wanted on the pitch every week because you felt like players weren't working or weren't giving the best and he was impactful."

The former striker highlighted McTominay's evolving role within the United setup, noting his progression into a more advanced position where his goal-scoring prowess became increasingly evident. "He was playing in a more advanced role and he was scoring important goals," Rooney continued. "When Man United let him go, I was thinking, 'wow, what's going on here?' But you'd love to have him back at Man United now."

United have nevertheless moved on with their midfield overhaul this summer. Atalanta's Ederson is poised to complete a move to Old Trafford following Casemiro's departure, whilst the club remains engaged in pursuit of West Ham's Mateus Fernandes and maintains keen interest in Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton. A McTominay reunion does not feature in their immediate plans.

The midfielder's immediate focus remains Scotland's World Cup campaign, which kicks off against Haiti in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time. McTominay had been troubled by a stomach complaint and sat out training on Thursday, though he is anticipated to feature in the tournament opener.

Scotland teammate Kenny McLean offered reassurance regarding McTominay's fitness whilst paying tribute to his standing within the squad. "Hopefully that doesn't spread," McLean said. "I am sure everybody has fingers crossed that Scott will be fine. Everybody knows what Scott brings."

McLean underscored McTominay's importance to the national setup, describing him as a cornerstone of the qualifying effort. "It is quite apparent how big a player he is for us," the Norwich midfielder explained. "For all that it has been a team effort, and always will be a real team effort, we have special players at the core. He is up on a mural for a reason. He is a true talent, a special player, an amazing guy and an amazing part of the team."

Emphasising McTominay's character within the camp, McLean noted the midfielder's determination to be available. "He is desperate to play and his preparations have been amazing apart from maybe something he has eaten somewhere along the line."