Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stunned as Scott McTominay shines after Man Utd exit

The Norwegian tactician, who once called Old Trafford home, also took a moment to salute two of his former charges still shining for the Red Devils.

Manchester United have undergone seismic shifts since Sir Jim Ratcliffe seized the reins of the Premier League titans last year. A root-and-branch rebuild is in full swing under new boss Ruben Amorim, who's tasked with resurrecting the club's glory days.

But amid the upheaval, McTominay became a high-profile casualty, shipped off to Napoli for a fee around 25 million pounds plus add-ons during the summer window.

The Scotland midfielder had been a rare bright spark in United's dismal 2023/24 season, yet the axe still fell.

Since landing in Serie A, McTominay has been electric under Antonio Conte's watch at Napoli, bagging seven goals and four assists in 28 outings. His form has turned headsâ”and left Solskjaer rueing the loss.

Speaking to The Athletic, Solskjaer didn't hold back. "It's still good to see Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire doing well," he said, tipping his hat to the United pair. "And Scotty is doing well at Napoli. I'm upset that we let him go because he was important last season when he kept popping up with goals. His heart and his knowledge of the culture were important."

Earlier this season, Solskjaer had expanded on his frustration, saying: "I'm very happy for Scott. As I said, when he left, I didn't want this, but that's the rules the club had to deal with. The rules are, I would even say, bad, but that's the situation created. It forced us to make this decision."

His comments point to the financial tightrope United have walked under Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which likely nudged the club to cash in.

Reflecting on United's broader challenges, Solskjaer was asked if the club need to stick with their managers longer. "That's for the people at the top," he said. "But an issue is that the manager plays with the previous manager's players."

For him, United remain close to his heart. "I just remember a great time at United apart from the last six weeks. Great peopleâ”and the culture is in the people. Going back to United was like going back to my family, like I'd never been away."

Now at Besiktas, Solskjaer is plotting a revival of his own. "Besiktas also feels like a family club, with respect for each other," he said. "There are members of staff who've been here for 10, 20, 30 years. It's good to be back and at a club like this, with this level of players.

"I want to test and try what made me successful before, and I've got my core beliefs and a way of coaching, but also the new things I've learnedâ”tactical tweaks and trends in the game. Football is always evolving, and I need to build a style of play. We'll get this season done, do as well as we can, and then, from the summer, we kick on."

Recent X updates from Besiktas show Solskjaer's impact taking root. A post from the club's official account on February 25, 2025, hailed a gritty 2-1 win over rivals Galatasaray, with fans buzzing about his high-pressing approach.

Meanwhile, McTominay's latest X activity saw him thank Napoli supporters after a brace against Lazio on February 23, 2025, underscoring the form that's left Solskjaer shaking his head at United's call.

READ MORE: Neymar admits to nearly joining Bayern Munich in 2013