Scott McTominay compared to Arsenal star and tipped for Premier League return

Scott McTominay scored in Napoli’s 2-0 Champions League win over Qarabag on Tuesday (Picture: Getty)

Didi Hamann has compared Scott McTominay to Arsenal ’s Declan Rice and has tipped the Napoli star for a sensational Premier League return.

McTominay has shined since arriving at the Italian club from Manchester United in August 2024, helping Napoli clinch the Serie A title last term.

The 28-year-old midfielder has impressed in this season’s Champions League with three goals in five games, while he’s also registered two goals and two assists across 11 Italian top-flight matches.

Last season, McTominay conjured up 12 goals and six assists in 34 Serie A matches, quickly becoming a Napoli fan-favourite and club icon.

The Scotland international was crowned the Most Valuable Player in the Italian top-flight for 2024-25 and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or award.

McTominay was ranked 18th overall on the 2025 Ballon d’Or list, the most prestigious individual award in football, given to the player deemed to have performed best over the previous season, with Rice below him in 27th.

Hamann sees similarities between McTominay and Rice – with the German also adamant that there will be a ‘lot’ of transfer interest in the Napoli star.

Declan Rice has more defensive responsibilities than the Napoli star (Picture: Getty)

‘I can see Scott McTominay back in the Premier League,’ Hamann told CoinCasino .

‘He played at Manchester United when they didn’t have a good time. Not a very successful time and he probably didn’t get the credit.

‘He was an important player, but he was probably never really a regular over the few years he’s been there.

Scott McTominay has quickly become a fan-favourite at Napoli (Picture: Getty)

‘I think he’s pretty similar to Declan Rice. He likes to roam around, Declan Rice. He used to be a holding midfielder, now he’s really everywhere.

‘Taking set pieces, scoring goals. But yeah, I’m pretty sure that there’ll be a lot of interest and maybe takers, but he’s loved in Napoli.

‘I’m not sure he wants to leave because if they make you one of them, it’s probably not that easy to leave.’

It is understood that McTominay is very happy at Napoli and the club have no desire whatsoever to sell the player, who is under contract until 2028.

Football transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, speaking over the weekend on his YouTube channel, said reports suggesting McTominay could return to the Premier League in the January transfer window were just ‘fantasy’.

A number of former players, managers and football pundits have slammed United for allowing McTominay to leave Old Trafford in the first place.