Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has said that he rejected a loan move to fight for his place at the club shortly after manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival.
The midfielder has become integral to Solskjaer’s rebuild at Old Trafford, but he has said he was faced with a dilemma over his future while trying to establish himself in the team.
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“About a year and half ago there was a time where [a loan move] might have been a possibility and then somebody leaves or something like that, and then your opportunity comes and you have to take it,” McTominay told The Manchester United Podcast.
“You hear loads of stories about boys going on loan and different things like that and I always had it in my head that I don’t want that. I want to be showing myself here first and if it doesn’t work here then you go somewhere else.”
McTominay appeared close to securing a temporary move away in January 2019 shortly after Solskjaer took over from Jose Mourinho.
But when fellow midfielder Marouane Fellaini was sold to Shandong Luneng, it opened the door for McTominay to play a more active role in the side.
The 23-year-old is closing in on 100 senior appearances, but he is refusing to take his place in the squad lightly.
“You hear the stories about getting the life of luxury at Manchester United and people take that for granted, like the food in the canteen, your kit being laid out for you every morning,” McTominay added.
“People just expect that and you have to always remember where you come from in that respect and always appreciate what people do for you. I feel like that is culture that is brought through for us.”