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.
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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.
Are Rice and McTominay similar players?
McTominay and Rice are both athletic and versatile midfielders.
Rice was more of a holding midfielder but is now seen as a box-to-box specialist or complete midfielder at Arsenal. He usually takes up a deep position alongside Martin Zubimendi but in a role that allows him to roam higher up the pitch and join attacks.
Like Rice, McTominay used to be better known for his defensive skillset but has transformed into more of a traditional box-to-box midfielder. He thrives high up the pitch, offering powerful runs, late arrivals into the box and a significant goal threat.
There is less expectation for McTominay to help out defensively at Napoli in comparison to Rice at Arsenal and this is reflected in their attacking output.
Both players have scored 18 goals for their respective current clubs – but McTominay has done it in 52 games with Rice needing 121 appearances to match that tally.
‘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.
‘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.
Peter Schmeichel says United ‘never’ should have sold McTominay with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also blasting the club over the Scot’s £25.7m exit.
Gary Lineker, meanwhile, has argued that McTominay would’ve been ‘perfect’ for Ruben Amorim’s style of football at Old Trafford.