Andy Robertson says Scotland team-mate Scott McTominay has shown Manchester United they were wrong to sell him to Napoli.
And he insists the midfielder ‘didn’t get the respect he deserves’ at Old Trafford prior to heading for Italy and winning the league title.
McTominay is coming off the debut season of his dreams in Serie A having scored the goal against Cagliari which propelled Antonio Conte’s side towards the scudetto.
Voted the league’s most valuable player after contributing 12 goals and six assists, the 28-year-old was sold for just £25.7million by United last year.
Liverpool full-back Robertson feels his one-time Premier League rival could have done no more to show his former club exactly what they’ve been missing.
‘I think he went over there with a point to prove,’ said the Scotland captain ahead of Friday night's friendly with Iceland at Hampden.
‘He wanted to prove Man Utd wrong and prove people in the Premier League wrong, and he’s gone over there and done that pretty successfully.
‘That’s credit to him, credit to his attitude and his determination to be the best version of himself.
‘Now he’s a king over there. At Man Utd he probably lacked getting that run of games consistently, he was in and out and things like that.
‘He probably didn’t get the respect he deserves.
‘Then he goes over there, puts in a magnificent season and, fair play to him, he ends it with the league title.
‘Everyone knows how passionate their fans are so, for them to love one of ours, it’s pretty special for Scotland, too.
‘They love Billy (Gilmour) too, so credit to the both of them for going over there, being successful and winning the trophy.’
Despite McTominay and team-mate Gilmour fervently celebrating Napoli’s fourth title, both checked in as planned this week as Scotland prepared to host the Icelanders.
Lewis Ferguson recently skippered Bologna to the Coppa Italia, and Roberston feels the success his international team-mates have recently enjoyed is their just reward for making such bold career moves.
‘We have seen Scott and Billy go there, we’ve seen Lewis Ferguson go there, Aaron Hickey, Che Adams,’ he said.
‘We’ve got Max Johnston playing abroad (with Sturm Graz) as well. And when players move abroad, they see a different way of playing and a different lifestyle.
‘That can only help the young lads coming through and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re thinking they want to go and try it.
‘It’s credit to lads for stepping out of their comfort zone.
‘I feel the more people we have with that winning mentality, playing in finals and playing in the final match of the season when you have to win, then it can only help us when things get high pressure for Scotland.
‘This season has been a pretty good one on that front. Lads have played in high-pressure games, won titles and trophies. That can only help us going forward.’
Scotland face Iceland before travelling to face Liechtenstein on Monday as Steve Clarke’s side look to put the disappointment of being relegated from the top tier of the Nations League in March behind them.
Having won the play-off first leg in Greece 1-0, Scotland were dismantled 3-0 at Hampden.
The World Cup qualifying campaign begins in September with an away double header against Denmark and Belarus, and Robertson believes the team will be better for the adversity they’ve experienced.
‘We learned a lot from the Greece games,’ he stressed.
‘Maybe the two legs, doing the travelling, took it out of us a bit.
‘That’s where the mentality, knowing what it takes in big games, that’s where we have to be better.
‘We have to be as fresh as we can going into that second game, dig deep when things aren’t going well.’
Moyabdelsu
1
This is stupidity Man United have good mind if a player wants to go to other clubs there are given them their rights to do so at their peak men so you're jealous only
vuaabdipu
1
Everybody that leaves U will prove them wrong 💯 😌
GaddafiJamal
0
Nope he hasn't proven anything, Playing with old Players in Italy he failed in EPL wr intersity is hight at all times
Visitors Don’t Have Sense Anyways 🤧🤮
muhceilrst
0
ETH and united board were too stupid to let him leave
veolmortuz
0
mctomin play like kdb ,, with no lazyness,, now see Mino very lazy ,,no seriously
Widbiltz
0
The problems in Manchester United are the Manchester United.
Tepaeorty
1
Nope he hasn't proven anything, Playing with old Players in Italy he failed in EPL wr intersity is hight at all times
Tewbdilopz
0
😁
Tewbdilopz
1
😘😘😘😘
Memaceiklu
0
We all knew Robbo United is a clown club
pisbckloz
0
Scott was not going to help us at all . Remember most the players who leave Premier League always does well . Remember Lukaku . Napoli was already a championship team.
Napoli came in 10th last year honey. Plus they sold their best player in Kvaratskhelia, so try again.
yuocknoru
0
Scott was not going to help us at all . Remember most the players who leave Premier League always does well . Remember Lukaku . Napoli was already a championship team.
Zawdilmnpz
0
look at their captain i he is stupid to remain there or he to be centre of attention like jaa he assist ja he score otherwise normal player with his age could waste his last fuel there ..you could go look for champion .league cup if dnt like money ofcourse is understandable
Zawdilmnpz
0
no player is good at Manchester so dnt blame them non of the shine Antony went and he perform .The promblem is Manchester not the players
Nooabknpty
0
Yes when you stupid arrogant average coaches who came with there idiotness doing nonsense and backed with stupid wicket board who are just after the revenue let are talents leave that's always the reward.
Zeyabelntz
0
This proves a point …. the Mgt. knows nothing about this GAME !
China6655055
1
ManU has been destroying players for the past 10 years. They always buy players with potential, and destroy their careers. He was lucky to leave ManU. No player who wants to advance should play for ManU.
The_Red_DeviIs
1
Manchester United team is Always Wrong... They will continue going backward😂 Always Lose Control
[image]
Listen to this disgusting bandwagon sand
SMHellas
1
No, it was the right call. He found somewhere to play the role he wanted to, which was never a chance at United
Dollypizzle9ja
4
we are not wrong, he his in our past now
lisbekloyz
1
so if he play bad then it's a mistake isit
AbdulZaks008
0
Doesn’t matter, I just wana know so please mention 🤣
you can mention because it's you who ask to know
Edoo87
1
he was explosive in Napoli
Tesilrsuyz
0
still it's big shame
Doesn’t matter, I just wana know so please mention 🤣
AbdulZaks008
0
So what about Mbappe stats too? You can’t mention that?
still it's big shame
Tesilrsuyz
0
Lamine Yamal win his last 6 games against Mbappe for club and country, Scoring 6 and assisting 2 including 2 semis and 2 Finals...😳😳😳 Lamine, Laminator ❌ Terminator☠️✔️
So what about Mbappe stats too? You can’t mention that?
AbdulZaks008
0
Manchester United team is Always Wrong... They will continue going backward😂 Always Lose Control
Buadipst
1
He was proving it before he even left.
AbdulZaks008
1
Lamine Yamal win his last 6 games against Mbappe for club and country, Scoring 6 and assisting 2 including 2 semis and 2 Finals...😳😳😳 Lamine, Laminator ❌ Terminator☠️✔️