“Not much you can do”: “Worried” club chief admits they’re powerless to stop exit of talisman wanted by United

A Napoli executive has made a major transfer admission regarding Scott McTominay even as rumours continue to swirl that a return to Manchester United may be on the cards. Improved fortunes McTominay has enjoyed a dramatic turnaround since leaving United for Napoli in the summer of 2024. In his very first season with the club, he bagged an impressive 12 Serie A goals to secure Napoli the Scudetto. For his exploits, McTominay was named Serie A Player of the Season. A cult hero at Napoli, McTominay is showing no signs of slowing down. So far this term, he has netted nine goals and provided an additional four assists in 30 appearances across the Italian top flight and the Champions League. On the international stage, his fortunes have also risen significantly, with his contributions proving vital to Scotland securing their 2026 World Cup place. A return to the Premier League has been mooted for McTominay. Some reports have suggested that United are keen on a reunion with their academy graduate. Newcastle and Arsenal have also been mentioned to be eyeing him ahead of the summer transfer window. Napoli’s global business development officer, Leonardo Giammarioli, appeared on talkSPORT and admitted they may be powerless to keep McTominay if a big offer for him arrives. Napoli’s McTominay worry Giammarioli told talkSPORT, “Yeah, of course I’m worried. But ultimately, especially Scott, who’s a very nice guy, we’re happy if he gets to the next level in a couple of years – maybe not now, maybe not next year, but he deserves it.” “Look at Stuttgart, they wanted to keep Nick Woltemade, but when such an offer comes in, there’s not much you can do, when the player wants to go and money is important.” He continued, “It’s a bit complicated for Serie A and our competitive clubs…the league is still making losses in revenue. Of course, it’s hard to keep up with the other big four leagues, but we’re trying to improve and be competitive.” “Keeping players is difficult, it wasn’t easy to get them [players such as McTominay and Billy Gilmour] – it’s even harder to keep them. We need to be smart about our signings…every bit of money we spend must count.” On improving players like McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund, who is currently on loan in Naples, Giammarioli remarked, “I think that’s what we’ve always been good at.” “Somehow taking players and bringing them to the next level, maybe players that were doing good, but now they become top players. I think the environment is right for them to grow and then we can grow as a club thanks to their support. Scouting is very important, and I think overall the ambition to play for Napoli, thanks to Diego Maradona’s legacy, is huge.” “That’s a bit of our strategy, to get players that are already mature, but not yet that high in their career and make that final shift for them to become top players in the world.” Should United decide to proceed with their intention to re-sign McTominay, Giammarioli’s remarks will offer them considerable encouragement. 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 Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!