Ex-United star struggling with off-field issues tipped for a blockbuster Premier League return – report

Scott McTominay has enjoyed a new lease of life since leaving Manchester United in the summer of 2024 to join Napoli. The Scottish midfielder enjoyed a stunning debut campaign in Serie A, registering 12 goals and six assists in 34 games to help the Partenopei win the league. McTominay was named the Serie A MVP last season for his performances. He subsequently earned a place on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist and finished 18th in the final rankings. In his short time in Italy, the Scot has achieved near-godlike status among the Napoli faithful. A shrine in the heart of the City McFratm, as he is affectionately nicknamed by fans in Napoli, has already become part of the city’s football folklore. McTominay’s impact in Italy has been so great that a shrine was created in his honour on Vico San Nicola a Nilo in May this year. The shrine features an image of the Scot, along with the word ‘McFratm’ and the initials ‘N4’. McTominay has continued his fine form this season, scoring four goals and setting up one more in 10 appearances across all competitions. However, it now appears that the 28 year old could be set for a swift return to the Premier League. Off-the-pitch struggles According to The Sun, McTominay is feeling the pressures of fame and is struggling to cope with life off the pitch in Italy. A source told the British newspaper: “Scott loves elements of Italian life and had a wonderful first season. But the passion of the fans can be a blessing but also make things difficult.” “He is treated as a god over there but it means he finds it difficult to do simple things when he’s not training. The attention can be suffocating.” McTominay’s impressive rise in Italy has also raised questions about United’s decision to let him go as well. For the record, the Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League last season and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. Ruben Amorim is slowly turning things around this campaign, around a year after taking charge at Old Trafford. However, the midfield remains his team’s Achilles heel, and the Red Devils are expected to invest heavily in the position in 2026. It is unclear, however, whether the Premier League giants will consider a return for their prodigal son next year. Feature image Francesco Pecoraro via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.