“The name that’s conquered the heart of Napoli” - Manchester United star reacts after receiving Napoli jersey from Scott McTominay
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes shared a post on Instagram after receiving a jersey from former teammate Scott McTominay. The Portuguese heaped praise on the Napoli midfielder after being gifted the jersey of the Scotsman's new club
Scott McTominay ended a 22-year association with the Red Devils, joining Napoli in the summer in a deal worth around £25.4 million. The boyhoood United fan reportedly wanted to stay at the club.
With Portugal travelling to Glasgow to play Scotland in the UEFA Nations League, McTominay and Bruno reunited this week. The match ended in a 0-0 stalemate, but there was a surprise in store for the Portuguese.
After the match, McTominay presented his Napoli shirt to Bruno Fernandes. The Portugal international confirmed the news on his Instagram account with the caption:
"Scott McTominay, the name that's conquered the heart of Napoli."
The Scottish midfielder is fondly remembered for his time at the club where he came through the ranks and established himself in the first-team. Manager Erik ten Hag spoke glowingly about McTominay, saying that he would have preferred not to have lost him.
"It is a little bit mixed. I am very happy for him, but it is mixed because I wouldn’t prefer to lose him. "He is Manchester United in everything, he was so important for Manchester United," he said [via Manchester Evening News].
"He was here for over 22 years but unfortunately it is the rules. Homegrown players bring more value and that is not the right thing to do but for everyone, for all parts, it is a good deal. Scott is happy with it, and Napoli and us," the former Ajax manager added.
Scott McTominay joined Manchester United in 2002 and made his first team debut in 2017. Since then he made 255 appearances for the club in seven seasons where he scored 29 goals, before leaving for the Serie A club.
"I have to take responsibility" - Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes
The recipient of McTominay's Napoli jersey, Bruno Fernandes is going through a lull phase in front of goal. He is yet to score for Manchester United this season while he has received two red cards, one of which was rescinded.
The 30-year-old spoke to Portuguese media [via Manchester United's official website] last week ahead of facing Poland and Scotland, admitting that he has to shoulder the goalscoring responsibility.
"I want to improve as soon as I get there, and make sure the goals start coming again. I have to take responsibility for that too, because I’m a midfielder who scores a lot of goals, and over the years, I’ve always been at a very high level in terms of goals and I have to live up to that, with those expectations," admitted Bruno.
Bruno Fernandes has scored 10 or more goals in every season since he joined the club from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.
