Wayne Rooney Calls on Manchester United to Re-Sign Scott McTominay After Controversial £26m Napoli Sale

Wayne Rooney has publicly urged Manchester United to pursue a move to bring Scott McTominay back to Old Trafford, describing the club’s original decision to sell the midfielder as one that left him stunned at the time.

Speaking on “The Wayne Rooney Show,” the former England captain and Manchester United striker did not hold back in his assessment of the £26 million ($35m) sale to Napoli, which was completed two years ago. “I couldn’t believe Man United let him go when they did because he obviously works extremely hard,” Rooney said. “And at the time they let him go, he was actually one of the players who you wanted on the pitch every week because you felt like players weren’t working or weren’t giving the best and he was impactful. He was playing in a more advanced role and he was scoring important goals. When Man United let him go, I was thinking, ‘wow, what’s going on here?’ But you’d love to have him back at Man United now.”

The comments carry added weight given what has unfolded since McTominay’s departure. The 29-year-old, who came through United’s academy system, went on to play a central role in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning season in Serie A — a title triumph that underlined the midfielder’s development into a consistent performer at the highest level. His contributions in Italy have reinforced the view among some observers that United parted with him at well below his true market value.

Rooney, who briefly played alongside a then-young McTominay during the 2017 season before leaving Old Trafford, believes the club are now feeling the absence of the energy and industry McTominay brought to the midfield. The Scotsman has also become a key figure for the Scottish national team, most recently contributing to Scotland’s victory in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The call to re-sign McTominay comes at a time when Manchester United are actively looking to reshape their squad. A midfield overhaul is understood to be among the club’s primary objectives this summer transfer window. United have already moved to strengthen their options with the signing of Ederson from Atalanta, though McTominay’s name has not featured on their official transfer shortlist, according to reports.

Instead, the club are reportedly directing their attention toward younger domestic options. West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton have all been linked with moves to Old Trafford as the club continues its rebuild under new management structures.

Whether Napoli would be willing to part with a player who has been so influential in their recent domestic success — and at what price — remains an open question. Given that McTominay was acquired for £26 million, any buy-back would almost certainly require a significantly higher outlay, making Rooney’s suggestion as much a reflection of transfer regret as a realistic near-term prospect.

Rooney has been vocal about United’s direction in recent weeks, previously advising supporters to temper their expectations regarding a Premier League title challenge while also commenting on activity in the transfer market. His remarks on McTominay represent the latest in a series of candid assessments from the club’s all-time leading scorer.