Scott McTominay was the hero as Napoli maintained their Serie A title push on Monday night.
The midfielder scored twice in a 3-0 home victory over Empoli for Antonio Conte’s side.
His brace came either side of a strike from fellow former Manchester United star Romelu Lukaku.
Napoli now sit three points behind leaders Inter Milan with six matches remaining.
Meanwhile, McTominay has continued his stunning debut season in Italy since leaving United last summer.
The Scotland international penned a four-year deal with Napoli after departing his boyhood club.
Having joined the Red Devils’ academy as a youngster, he went on to make 255 appearances and score 29 goals for the first-team.
However, United parted ways with McTominay in August after 22 years on their books as he completed a £25million move.
The 28-year-old has not looked back since with a damning stat suggesting his old club may regret their decision.
His two goals against Empoli took McTominay’s league tally for the season to eight, more than any United player other than Bruno Fernandes.
Ruben Amorim has previously suggested the club should not regret their decisions to sell players who have succeeded elsewhere, though.
Although he was not in charge when McTominay was sold, the Scotland international’s form in front of goal this season would have added a boost to their hopes.
The Portuguese discussed the performances of former players after Anthony Elanga scored the winner for Nottingham Forest against his old side earlier this month.
Amorim explained: “We are talking about a lot of front players for Manchester United that are doing right but they had the chance here.
“At Manchester United you don’t have the time. I will not have the time. We have to get it right fast.
“You are not talking about players that didn’t play for Manchester United, they were here playing for Manchester United.
“In here the pressure is too big sometimes and sometimes you don’t get time and you should have time for these kids to develop.
“But for that you need a strong base to support all these kids and if you don’t have strong base we are not going to help our kids.
“They had their chances and sometimes football is like that and the pressure of playing for Manchester United is really big.”
It comes as United edge closer to finishing their worst season of the Premier League era.
Following Sunday’s loss to Newcastle, Amorim’s side sit 14th in the table with six matches remaining.
Meanwhile, they are just three points above West Ham in 17th place.
As a result, United are set to record their lowest league finish since returning to the top flight in 1975.
