Scott McTominay has entertained the idea of moving to Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid. The pair have a strong connection that dates back to 2017, when Mourinho handed McTominay his senior debut for Manchester United against Arsenal.
McTominay clearly earned the manager's trust that year, as he became even more involved the following season, making 23 appearances for Mourinho's side.
The impact of this early exposure was evident even after Mourinho left United, as McTominay grew into a key figure in the Manchester United squad, making 255 senior appearances and scoring plenty of important goals along the way.
Mourinho affectionately labeled McTominay 'my boy' in an interview with United legend Rio Ferdinand, and created a 'Manager's Player of the Year' award in order to commend McTominay back in 2018. It is clear their connection remains strong to this day.
Speaking to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera (via AS), he was asked whether he'd consider reuniting with the Portuguese tactician:
"If Mourinho called me about Real Madrid, honestly, I'd think about it."
McTominay's Italian Rebrand
After his Manchester United career came to an end, McTominay took his talents to Serie A by joining Napoli.
Playing in a more attacking position, he quickly became an iconic figure in Naples by scoring key goals that pushed Napoli to their fourth Serie A title, after finishing 10th the season before he arrived.
With 34 goal involvements in 82 games, his immediate impact has led fans to paint murals of McTominay and give him the nickname McFratm, which translates to McBro.
McTominay is still currently under contract at Napoli until 2028, so a move would be complicated, especially after recent reports of having to undergo a heart procedure due to a 'mild benign arrhythmia '.
Mourinho Returns To Real Madrid
Mourinho's return to Madrid has started near-perfectly, with the team winning their first 3 La Liga games and scoring 10 goals in the process.
He seems like the perfect manager to control Madrid's squad full of high-profile superstars, such as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr.
Where Mourinho goes, trophies often follow, and after a few underwhelming seasons, the Madridistas will be hoping he can return them to winning ways, much like he did during his first spell with the club, winning the league title in the 2011/12 season.
With his current squad performing well, it would be difficult for Mourinho to justify spending millions to entice Scott away from Italy. But as the summer transfer window closes, there is always potential for a move in the near future as his Napoli contract gets closer to its end.
A reunion between McTominay and Mourinho seems more fairytale than practical as things stand, but with the Scottish midfielder in his prime years and Madrid partway through a rebuild, the possibility of a move is compelling.
