Roy Keane believes Scott McTominay’s Manchester United career was hindered by his association with fellow midfielder Fred.

McTominay made over 250 appearances for his boyhood club before moving to Italian side Napoli last summer for £25m.

The Scotland international was a key member of the Old Trafford squad for half a decade, playing at least 35 games every season between 2019-20 and 2023-24.

McTominay was sold partly for PSR reasons and the transfer decision has looked increasingly questionable this season as the 28-year-old has starred for Napoli.

Scoring 12 goals in 34 appearances, McTominay has quickly become a fan favourite in Naples, helping Antonio Conte’s side climb to the top of Serie A with two games remaining.

McTominay’s form for title favourites Napoli has led to claims that Manchester United made a mistake selling him but Keane doubts that is the case.

The ex-Old Trafford captain does, however, acknowledge that McTominay was viewed unfairly during his time at United due to his association with Fred.

The ‘McFred’ midfield partnership was widely criticised, with Keane particularly critical of Brazil international Fred during his five-year spell at the Theatre of Dreams.

‘What didn’t help Scott was it was him and Fred together,’ Keane said on Stick to Football. ‘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 Man 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.’

Solskjaer slams Man Utd for selling McTominay

While McTominay is thriving at Napoli, Fred has also impressed since leaving Manchester United for Fenerbahce in 2023.

Ex-United boss Solskjaer has repeatedly questioned the club’s decision to sell McTominay, recently saying the decision is ‘beyond him’

‘Scott and Fred together, they were lads you would put your hat on every day to give 100 per cent,’ Solskjaer said. ‘How you can sell Scott is beyond me.’

Old Trafford legend Jaap Stam added: ‘Scott McTominay has been a very important influence at Manchester United even though he wasn’t a guaranteed starter.

‘He scored goals and had a big impact and those are the players you don’t want to lose as a football club.

‘Leaving might’ve been a good step for him, as is currently being discussed with Marcus Rashford, but he may well have wanted to stay.

‘He has been a very important player for Napoli and his confidence is growing because he is starting most games and overall I think selling him was a bad call at United.

‘Sometimes you have to make tough decisions as a club and I understand that, but I wouldn’t have been keen to sell McTominay.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.