Sporten.com wasn’t alone in feeling upset about Manchester United who let Scott McTominay move on cheaply and unnecessarily, despite having buckets of the club’s DNA.
An exit from Napoli is in the cards as club and player are far apart in extension negotiations.
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It’s been a few days since the news of a possible return to Old Trafford surfaced and now reports Tuttomercatoweb has interfered in talks with Manchester United.
Real Madrid have enquired about McTominay – Napoli dead-heat negotiations
Scott McTominay, 29, and Napoli are reported to have ended up in a dead heat regarding a new contract. Thus, it is considered likely that the Scotland international midfielder will leave the club going forward.
Now, the Italian online newspaper Tuttomercatoweb comes with new information that the parties are still far apart, and that the threat of a dismissal is alive for Napoli. At the same time, the online newspaper writes that Real Madrid have inquired with McTominay’s people about the situation – just as Premier League clubs may make attempts to sign the player in the future.
McTominay is currently on a contract until 2028. He joined from Manchester United in 2024 and has since scored 27 goals and ten assists in 82 appearances, as well as helped win a Serie A title.
Scott McTominay’s journey so far
From the academy in Manchester to the first team
Scott McTominay was born on December 8, 1996 in Lancaster, England, but grew up with Scottish connections through his father. He joined Manchester United’s academy as early as five years old and gradually worked his way up the club’s youth ranks.
The road to the first team was not straightforward. As a teenager, he was small in stature and occasionally played as a striker, before he eventually grew and was retrained as a midfielder. It was precisely this combination of physical strength and technical understanding that would later become his trademark.
The breakthrough under José Mourinho
McTominay made his official debut for Manchester United under Jose Mourinho in the 2016/17 season, against Arsenal. Mourinho quickly became a great admirer of the Scot and gave him confidence in important matches. In 2018, the Portuguese named him his own “Player of the Year” – an award he created specifically to recognize McTominay’s development and work ethic.
“He’s my boy,” Mourinho later said of McTominay. “When I go from club to club, I find my boys. And they will always be my boys.
Many years of service at United
Through seven seasons at Old Trafford, McTominay made 255 appearances for his childhood club. He was never one of the most high-profile stars but was appreciated for his willingness to work, his ability to emerge with important goals and his professional attitude.
He played under several managers – Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag – and particularly distinguished himself as a goal-scoring midfielder in big games.
The breakthrough in Naples
In the summer of 2024, his career took a new turn when McTominay left United for Napoli. The transfer proved to be an instant success. In his first season in Serie A, he was named player of the season after 12 goals and six assists – and was a key player as Napoli secured the league title.
The following season, he followed that up with 10 league goals and three assists. In 82 appearances for the Italian club, he now has 27 goals and ten assists – impressive numbers for a midfielder.
The national team
McTominay has also been a central figure for Scotland. He made his debut in 2018 and has since played a number of important games for the national team, including in the European Championship finals. His ability to make runs into the box and score goals has made him a crowd favourite for the national team as well.
The way forward
Now, at 29 years old, McTominay is at a crossroads. Napoli negotiations have stalled, and both Real Madrid and several Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation closely. With a contract until 2028, Napoli still hold the key – but if the parties do not come closer, a departure could become increasingly likely.
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