In what could be a major turning point for Manchester United’s midfield, former player Scott McTominay has signaled a strong willingness to return to the club—on one very specific condition. The Scottish international, now playing for Napoli, revealed that he has a clause in his contract that permits a return to Old Trafford, and he is eager to activate it. However, he made it clear that he will only come back if a particular individual, whom he blames for his departure, is no longer at the club.
Speaking candidly, McTominay acknowledged Napoli’s stature in European football but emphasized that, in his eyes, the Italian side doesn’t compare to the club where he developed and made his name. “Napoli is a fantastic team, but it doesn’t match the stature of Manchester United,” he reportedly said. “Old Trafford has always been home for me, and emotionally, I’ve never truly left.” Despite his affection for the club, McTominay insisted that he would only consider returning if what he described as a destabilizing figure was removed from the squad or staff.
“There’s one condition,” he continued. “If he’s still part of United next season, I won’t be back. He’s the root cause of my departure. He also played a role in Aaron Wan-Bissaka leaving. His presence disrupted everything.” Although McTominay didn’t reveal the identity of the person in question, his words suggest deep-seated issues behind the scenes that went unresolved during his final months at the club. He expressed his disapproval of how things were managed and implied that the internal dynamics had become toxic, to the point where both he and others felt compelled to leave.
McTominay’s departure in August 2024 was part of a broader effort by then-manager Erik ten Hag to reshape the squad. Despite public statements from Ten Hag indicating his preference to keep McTominay, the midfielder made the move to Napoli in a deal reportedly worth £25.7 million. Manchester United included a 10% sell-on clause as part of the transfer agreement, leaving the door slightly ajar for future business involving the player.
Now, with his sights potentially set on a return to Manchester, McTominay is making his stance clear: he’s ready to come home, but only under the right circumstances. “I want to come back,” he concluded, “but not into a situation that’s still chaotic. Fix the problem, and I’ll be there.”
