Roy Keane Blasts ‘player’ Era – Claims midfielder Tarnished McTominay’s Man Utd Career!
Roy Keane has stirred fresh debate over Manchester United’s long-standing midfield issues by pointing fingers at the once-criticized “McFred” duo. According to the former United captain, Scott McTominay’s progress at Old Trafford was hindered by his partnership with Fred, suggesting that the pair simply didn’t work well together. While speaking on The Overlap, Keane bluntly remarked that the combination was never a good fit and ultimately stunted McTominay’s development.
Keane argued that McTominay had potential, but the midfield structure under then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær failed to showcase it. He pointed to Fred’s limitations as a key factor that affected the Scotsman’s reputation during his time at United. Fred now plays for Fenerbahçe, while McTominay has revived his career with a standout season at Napoli, registering 11 goals and 4 assists. Despite acknowledging McTominay’s improvement in Italy, Keane stopped short of criticizing United’s decision to let him go, instead stating that while McTominay could have remained part of the squad, it’s questionable whether he should have started every match. He also added that United’s failure to replace him with better quality is where the real problem lies.
McTominay, on the other hand, has found contentment in Naples, calling it the “place I love” and saying he has no regrets about leaving Old Trafford. His resurgence abroad contrasts sharply with United’s current midfield struggles, where players like Casemiro, Sofyan Amrabat, and Mason Mount have yet to find consistent form. Keane’s comments could further intensify scrutiny of the club’s recruitment strategy and tactical decisions in recent years, as fans and pundits revisit whether the “McFred” experiment was more of a hindrance than a solution.
