Academy graduate McTominay was allowed to head for Naples in the summer of 2024. His first season away from Manchester saw the 28-year-old midfielder become a الدوري الإيطالي title winner and MVP – with متحد toiling their way to a 15th-place finish in the الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
A year on and Hojlund has joined McTominay at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the 22-year-old forward loaned out by United in a deal that includes a purchase option. He registered 26 goals for the Red Devils through 95 appearances.
In a busy window, wingers Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and أنطوني also departed. United have continued to struggle for consistency under Ruben Amorim, with Schmeichel left puzzled by some of the recruitment calls being made.
The iconic former goalkeeper told سكاي بيت: “I’d say Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund are the two players who should never have left.
“With Antony, it’s different. He was never good enough for مانشستر يونايتد. Yes, he scored on his debut, but very quickly you could see he didn’t have what it takes for the Premier League. In Holland, playing in a dominant team, he looked good. But at United, the pace is relentless from the first minute to the last, the pressure is constant, and every opponent raises their game. To succeed here, you need something extra, and he didn’t have it. He’s moved on, and we wish him well.
“The one that really pains me is Højlund. I honestly believe he could have been a 25-goal-a-season striker for Manchester United. The problem wasn’t him – it was the way the team played. The system didn’t suit him. When players like [Alejandro] Garnacho or [Marcus] Rashford got the ball, they looked only to shoot. The ball into the number nine never came, even though Rasmus was making really good runs.
“The fans saw it. They loved him because he fought, he ran, he gave everything, and he had to play every game because there were no other strikers. Of course, when you don’t score as a striker, people point to it again and again. But what more could he do without service?
“I’ve seen what he can do when he’s on form and gets the right service. That’s why I’m glad it’s only a loan. I hope he scores 25 goals, and that people at Old Trafford are then thinking: “We have to bring him back”. With [Matheus] Cunha and [Bryan] Mbeumo now providing service, and Bruno [Fernandes] playing further up the pitch, I still believe he could be a fantastic striker for Manchester United. He’s already scored after just 30 minutes for Napoli, which shows his quality. He’s still our player, and that’s the positive.
“As for McTominay, I honestly can’t say anything other than: why? Why was he allowed to leave?”
United, without European football on their agenda for 2025-26, have already slipped out of the كأس كاراباو this season – suffering a humbling defeat to الدوري الثاني جانب Grimsby – and went down 3-0 on ديربي day against arch-rivals مانشستر سيتي in their last Premier League fixture.
