Scott McTominay steals Alejandro Garnacho’s hat and boots it away
With temperatures dropping across the UK this week, it’s more than tempting to reach for the woolly hat instead of the snapback. However, if you do put one on, make sure Scott McTominay isn’t anywhere nearby.
This is because footage has emerged on social media showing the Manchester United midfielder booting teammate Alejandro Garnacho’s winter hat away during a training session at Carrington. You can take the man out of Scotland, ay.
While the act appears to have been in jest, with many of his United teammates looking onwards, it’s not clear why he did kick it away.
Check out the clip for yourself below:
Scott McTominay clearly isn’t a fan of hats 😂
via @footballdaily pic.twitter.com/yFZhnap1C9
— utdreport (@utdreport) November 2, 2022
The response on Twitter was mixed to say the least. While some saw the funny side of McTominay’s warm clothing protest, others thought it was bullying – given Garnacho’s status as a youngster within the squad.
The 18-year-old has played just three times in the Premier League for the Red Devils since making his debut at the end of last season. With McTominay being one of the more experienced members of Erik ten Hag’s squad, accusations of bullying were soon being levelled at the Scotland international.
Bullying? Release him.
— c⌖ (@hxnchoIini) November 2, 2022
Fine him for bullying Garnacho.
— 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗴’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 ✍🏼🇳🇱 (@TenHagBalI) November 2, 2022
One annoyed Twitter user wrote: ‘Fine him for bullying Garnacho’, while another added: ‘Bullying? Release him’.
Not everyone agreed however, with plenty of United fans coming to their midfielder’s defence in the replies.
Others instead pointed out how none of the squad seemed to react negatively to the hoofing, with one even suggesting that teammates like Casemiro were ‘scared’.
They wrote: “Love it no one can mess with mctominay look how scared Casemiro is.”
A second user took the chance to offer up an awful pun, simply writing: ‘Scott McKickitaway’.
Love It no one can mess with mctominay look how scared Casemiro is 😭😭😭
— Abdi (@abdi9084) November 2, 2022
Training ground antics aside, it’s been a mixed campaign thus far for McTominay. After starting the season as a firm favourite of new manager Ten Hag, he has struggled for minutes more recently. With the Dutchman now preferring a midfield pivot of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, the 25-year-old academy product has generally been used as a substitute.
It remains to be seen whether McTominay or Garnacho will start against Real Sociedad in the Europa League tomorrow night (3 November), but with qualification to the knockout stages now secured, it’s likely that Ten Hag will choose to rotate his squad.
Will we see the young Argentine sporting a winter hat if he’s named on the bench? Don’t count on it.