• Radja Nainggolan has described Manchester United’s Scott McTominay as an “average” footballer who lacks technical quality in open play.
• The Belgian former midfielder ranks Nicolò Barella, Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modrić above himself and McTominay.
• Nainggolan believes Inter Milan fully deserved their Serie A title and says AS Roma must finish in the top four.

Radja Nainggolan has delivered a harsh assessment of Scott McTominay. The former AS Roma and Belgium midfielder claims the Manchester United star is merely an ordinary player who cannot construct attacks effectively.

Speaking on the Sky Calcio Unplugged programme, the outspoken 36-year-old did not hide his views. He admitted that McTominay finds the net regularly. However, he argued that the Scottish international fails to demonstrate sufficient skill when operating in central areas.

“He scores plenty of goals. You can expect 12 to 14 each season,” Nainggolan explained. “But when he must create chances from deep positions, he does not possess the required technique. He cannot play between the lines. In my opinion, he is just an average player.”

The midfielder also compared his own career with several famous names. He stated that during his best years, he performed better than both McTominay and Inter Milan’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Yet he placed Inter’s Nicolò Barella on a higher level than himself. “Barella does not score as often, but his goals win matches. You always notice his presence on the pitch,” he said.

Nainggolan reserved special praise for two world-class stars. He described Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne as a player who “sees things others cannot”. He also called Real Madrid’s Luka Modrić “one of the greatest midfielders in the world”.

Turning his attention to Italian football, Nainggolan said Inter’s league victory was predictable. “At the start of the campaign, I always backed Inter. They have the deepest squad and play the most attractive football,” he noted. “Napoli and AC Milan challenged them, but neither side maintained the same level throughout the season.”

Regarding his old club Roma, the Belgian expressed frustration. He criticised their uneven performances and tactical approach. “With Paulo Dybala in the team, this club should never finish outside the Champions League places. The results are too up and down,” he concluded.