Scott McTominay: Man United lead race for Napoli talisman in shock twist | OneFootball

Manchester United are reportedly leading the race to secure a sensational return for Scott McTominay after the latest twist in the tale in Naples.

An Italian Renaissance

McTominay has been transformed from an ineffective defensive midfielder at Old Trafford into one of Europe’s most decisive box-crashing No.8s since arriving in Italy in 2024.

Napoli signed the Scotland international for £25.7 million, bringing an end to his 22-year association with his boyhood club. He had joined United’s academy as a five-year-old.

It has proven to be a masterstroke, however, after being unleashed as an attacking midfielder by Antonio Conte, propelling Gli Azzurri to the Serie A title last season and winning the league’s ‘MVP’ award as the best player. A stunning overhead kick on the final day of the season – just one of 12 decisive goals across the campaign – returned the Scudetto to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, and immortalised the 29-year-old in Partenope.

Scott McTominay Stats: 2024/25 Season

McTominay’s performances even earned him a Ballon d’Or nomination, finishing 18th in the rankings ahead of superstars like Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland.

By contrast, United used the money from the Scot’s exit to fund a deal for Manuel Ugarte, who was signed from Paris Saint-Germain for a total of £50.5m.

The fact that the Uruguayan midfielder was strongly linked with a move to Galatasaray last month, and is expected to be available this summer, tells its own story of who has emerged as the winners from the transfer shuffle.

Dreaming of a Return

Despite this success in Italy, McTominay is understood to have unfinished business in England, according to Tutto Mercato Web (TMW). The Italian outlet reveals that sources close to the player claim he is “happy in Naples” but “dreams of returning, sooner or later, to the Premier League.”

Napoli executive Leonardo Giammarioli has openly discussed the Serie A giants’ difficulty in keeping their “best players” – an issue he states affects every side due to the league’s precarious financial situation, particularly in comparison to England. A host of Premier League clubs have been linked with McTominay, including north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

However, in an explosive twist, TMW reports it is the Red Devils who are at the front of the queue for the Lancaster native, with the Mancunian club understood to be ready to correct their mistake in letting him go.

Final Thoughts – A Triumphant Return or a Backwards Step?

It would be a remarkable concession for INEOS to sanction a big-money move for a player they sold on the cheap less than two years ago, even if it would offer a major upgrade for United’s midfield. The Premier League has evolved – or devolved, depending on your perspective – into an increasingly physical division, where the ability to win duels and dominate set-pieces can deliver you the title, as Arsenal look set to do.

A 6’4 midfielder with outstanding strength and mobility, who is as potent in the opposition box as he is his own, and has a wealth of experience in English football already, is tailor-made for these demands, even if his technical limitations remain.

However, McTominay turns 30 next season and INEOS have shifted the recruitment strategy away from targeting ageing players chasing one big final contract. The fact that United’s hierarchy would have to simultaneously admit their own blunder by bringing him home will make it an expensive pill that is too bitter to swallow at Old Trafford.

Featured image Francesco Pecoraro via Getty Images

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