Real Madrid ask about Scott McTominay, Napoli's Scottish star

Real Madrid have set their sights on Scott McTominay, the 29-year-old Scottish midfielder enjoying a standout spell at Napoli in Serie A. With his contract renewal at a standstill, his departure from the Italian club could gather pace in the coming months. The midfielder, who spent 22 years at Manchester United, has become one of the biggest revelations in Italian football.

• Real Madrid have already spoken to Scott McTominay's representatives, according to UK reports.
• Napoli renewal talks have stalled: president De Laurentiis does not see it as a priority.
• The 29-year-old has 14 goals and 4 assists in 44 games this season.
• McTominay was let go by Manchester United in 2024 and signed by Napoli for 30.5 million.
• Jose Mourinho, who gave him his debut at 18, still calls him 'my boy'.

Real Madrid's interest in Scott McTominay

British newspaper The Sun reports that Real Madrid have already been in contact with the player's agents to discuss a potential move to the Santiago Bernabéu. Reports detailing the Scot's performances in Italy have caught the attention of Madrid's sporting department, who view him as a versatile option to strengthen their midfield.

He is not the only club monitoring his situation. Italian media had already claimed in previous weeks that Real Madrid had made enquiries to the player's inner circle, against a backdrop in which his future at Napoli is far from guaranteed.

Napoli renewal talks at a standstill

Scott McTominay's contract at Napoli runs until June 2028, but his camp wants the issue resolved as soon as possible. According to Il Mattino, president Aurelio De Laurentiis does not view the renewal as an urgent matter, which has unsettled the player's representatives. The prospect of his exit being brought forward is very real.

Napoli paid 30.5 million euros to Manchester United for McTominay in 2024. Since arriving, the Scot has won over the Neapolitan fans as one of the most profitable signings of the last decade.

Performances that have made him a Napoli idol

Last season he finished with 14 goals and 4 assists in 44 appearances, numbers that earned him the Serie A 2024/25 MVP award. His work rate and his runs into the box have made him an idol at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where the crowd chants his name every matchday.

After my father, McTominay is the most decisive player in the history of Napoli. He is a fundamental player. At Napoli we had God in the figure of Maradona, but for me McTominay is Jesus.

The quote comes from Diego Armando Maradona Jr., son of the legendary Argentine, and sums up the midfielder's impact on the Napoli dressing room. Earlier, former defender Marco Materazzi had already described McTominay's transfer from Manchester United to Napoli as the biggest mistake in the history of the transfer market.

The Mourinho connection and an open door to Madrid

Jose Mourinho was the man who handed him his first-team debut at Manchester United in 2017, when he was just 18. The Portuguese coach holds a special affection for the player and still calls him 'my boy'. That connection has fuelled speculation about a potential reunion in Spanish football, should Mourinho return to a top-tier dugout.

Asked if he would answer a call from Mourinho to sign for Real Madrid, McTominay did not close the door. His response was clear: 'If that happened, I would think about it,' he admitted.

The cardiac scare and the battle with the Neapolitan diet

This season, the Scot had to undergo surgery for a mild and benign cardiac arrhythmia from which he recovered without problems. He returned to compete at the highest level and has remained a regular in Napoli's starting line-ups.

Off the pitch, McTominay has also had to fight against the culinary temptations of the city. Il Mattino reported that the player was at risk and under observation due to his diet, affected by the luxuries of Neapolitan cuisine. After every training session he would take home a note stating what he could and could not eat. Ice cream, pizza, pasta and cheese: Neapolitan dairy products were the biggest danger for a footballer who spent 22 years at United.