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🇸🇮 Slovenia /Sports

Mourinho’s boy, now revered in Naples almost like Maradona

From Delo · () Slovenian

Translated from Slovenian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Scott McTominay became a key Napoli player, winning the Italian championship and Super Cup and receiving Serie A’s 2024/25 player of the year award.
  • McTominay credited José Mourinho with giving him his first Manchester United appearance and said he would consider a move to Real Madrid if Mourinho called.
  • The Scotland international is currently sidelined by a mild, benign cardiac arrhythmia and expects to return after surgery in London.

Scott McTominay has reached a status in Naples that he probably could not have imagined when he left England. The Scotland midfielder has helped Napoli win the Italian championship and Super Cup, and was named Serie A’s best player for the 2024/25 season.

His unexpected move from Manchester United to Italy came two seasons ago, after José Mourinho had given him his first opportunity with United’s senior team. McTominay, now 29, discussed Mourinho, his development and his Manchester years in an interview with Corriere della Sera. Asked what he would do if Mourinho called with an offer to join Real Madrid, he answered without hesitation: “If that happened, I would consider it.”

If that happened, I would consider it.

· Scott McTominayHe answered a question about whether he would consider joining Real Madrid if José Mourinho offered him a move.

Mourinho handed McTominay his first-team debut in May 2017. The midfielder earned a more important role the following season and gradually established himself in the senior squad. Mourinho saw something unusual in him and created a special internal award, “Manager’s Player of the Year,” after McTominay missed out at the club’s regular awards ceremony.

Almost nobody expected me to reach this level.

· Scott McTominayMcTominay reflected on his rise after Mourinho gave him his Manchester United debut.

“Almost nobody expected me to reach this level,” McTominay said. Mourinho admired his humility, work ethic and commitment to the team, often referring to him as “My boy.”

In Naples, the admiration has grown further. Diego Armando Maradona Jr., the son of the legendary Argentine, said: “After my father, McTominay is the most decisive player in Napoli’s history. He is fundamental.”

After my father, McTominay is the most decisive player in Napoli’s history. He is fundamental.

· Diego Armando Maradona Jr.Maradona Jr. praised McTominay’s importance to Napoli.

McTominay is currently away from football because of a mild and benign cardiac arrhythmia. He is due to undergo a procedure in London. “I have an arrhythmia and I’m not playing at the moment, but it doesn’t worry me. I’ll have the procedure and come back stronger,” he said. The article notes that many at Manchester United may now regret his departure.

I have an arrhythmia and I’m not playing at the moment, but it doesn’t worry me. I’ll have the procedure and come back stronger.

· Scott McTominayHe discussed the cardiac procedure that currently keeps him out of action.
About this summary

Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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