Mourinho identifies Napoli’s midfield mainstay as surprise Real Madrid target | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s search for midfield reinforcements continues to generate new names, and the latest player being linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu is Napoli star Scott McTominay.

The Scottish international has enjoyed a remarkable rise in recent years and is now considered one of the most important figures in Napoli’s midfield setup. 

However, reports emerging from Italy suggest his future is attracting attention from Real Madrid, with new manager Jose Mourinho playing a key role behind the growing interest.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Portuguese coach is closely following the situation of the midfielder he knows better than most.

An old connection

McTominay’s connection with Mourinho goes back to their time together at Manchester United. 

It was the Portuguese manager who handed the midfielder his first-team breakthrough and showed considerable faith in him during the early stages of his career.

Mourinho is interested in Scott McTominay. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

That relationship appears to remain strong years later.

It is stated that Mourinho is an admirer of the Scotland international and views him as a profile capable of strengthening Real Madrid’s midfield options. 

At 29 years old, McTominay combines experience, physicality and tactical discipline, qualities that have helped him establish himself as one of Napoli’s most influential players since arriving in Italy.

Napoli moving to secure his future

The reports have understandably raised concerns within the Serie A side, where McTominay is viewed as a central piece of both the present and future project.

Although his contract runs until 2028, the Italian team is eager to strengthen their position by negotiating a new agreement. 

Club officials are aware that interest from a team like Real Madrid could complicate matters if discussions are delayed.

McTominay is a mainstay in Napoli’s midfield. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

On that note, they have no intention of entertaining offers for the midfielder this summer and consider him non-transferable under normal circumstances.

While his current market value is estimated at around €40 million, any potential negotiations would likely start at a significantly higher figure given his importance to the team.

Right now, the Italian side’s priority is to secure McTominay’s long-term future before external interest grows further.

As things stand, the story appears to be driven largely by Mourinho’s admiration for a player he helped develop at Manchester United. 

Whether that admiration evolves into a concrete transfer attempt remains to be seen, as Real Madrid are assessing several options for the same position.