Scott McTominay has undergone a remarkable transformation since his move to Italy, emerging as one of Serie A’s finest players. His impressive displays for Napoli have caught the eye of Marco Materazzi.
The 2006 World Cup winner admitted that he has been tracking the midfielder’s progress for years. Materazzi also revealed that he predicted McTominay’s rise to becoming a world-class player from the start of his career at Manchester United.
– I absolutely love Scott McTominay. I’m a big fan. When he first broke into Manchester United’s squad as a youngster, I told my son that this is a player who will become one of the best in the world. And now he has – said the Italian in an interview with “Hajper”.
The Inter Milan legend believes McTominay is now the ideal example of a modern “box-to-box” midfielder, capable of commanding the central area of the pitch.
The most controversial aspect of McTominay’s journey remains the fee for which Manchester United let him go. The Scotsman joined Antonio Conte’s side for around £26 million, a move meant to help the Old Trafford club meet financial requirements. Looking back, after McTominay led Napoli to the Serie A title and was crowned the league’s MVP, this amount feels astonishingly low.
– I can’t understand how United let him go for such a bargain price. In my eyes, his true value is around £60-70 million or even more, yet they sold him for just £26 million. Could this be one of the biggest transfer mistakes we’ve ever seen? I think it absolutely is – Materazzi remarked.
The Italian also commented on the player’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or, highlighting that while McTominay possesses remarkable athletic ability, the absence of significant achievements with the Scottish national team in major tournaments could hinder his pursuit of this prestigious award. Currently, the midfielder remains a vital part of Napoli, standing as their second-highest scorer in the league with seven goals to his name.