SCOTT MCTOMINAY was given a hero’s welcome after being swarmed by Napoli fans ahead of his move away from Manchester United.
The Scotland international, 27, touched down in Italy at midday on Thursday as he prepared for a medical before sealing his permanent move.
The midfielder, who has spent 22 years at United, is set to join the Serie A side for £25.2m before the end of the summer window.
Hundreds of fans, with phones in hand, turned up at Naples airport to catch a glimpse of their new signing.
The United academy graduate was then ushered into a car by a security entourage, to head to his hotel before travelling to the Diego Maradona stadium.
But, before the vehicle took off, a beaming McTominay, turned to the crowd and shouted the words “Forza Napoli” much to delight of fans.
His greeting almost matched the scenes awarded to Cristiano Ronaldo when he landed in Juventus in 2018, and when Lionel Messi touched down in Miami last July.
McTominay is expected to sign a long-term contract with Napoli on Thursday after agreeing personal terms with the Italian side.
He will become one of the most expensive Scottish footballers of all time, with United also including a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
Although there was a desire from Erik ten Hag to keep him at the club, they could not guarantee him the starting position he wanted.
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While the current PSR rules are structured by the Premier League in a way that rewards the sale of homegrown players for ‘pure profit’.
He has one year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford.
The sale of McTominay will help to fund United’s own move for midfielder Manuel Ugarte, which is set to be announced imminently.
Sekou Kone, 18, is also undergoing his United medical on Thursday ahead of completing a move from Mali club Guidars FC.
Napoli finished tenth in Serie A last season and, under boss Antonio Conte, they are rebuilding for another change-up at the top of the Italian top flight.
Sporting director Giovanni Manna spent last week in London doing business and they are also hopeful of signing another Scotland midfielder in Billy Gilmour after agreeing a fee in the region of £12 for the Brighton man.
While Chelsea‘s Romelu Lukaku received a similar welcome McTominay earlier this week, with the Belgian set to join in a £38m deal.
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Chelsea have reportedly made a sensational move to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
Liverpool are also eyeing a cut-price deal for Juventus outcast Federico Chiesa.
Meanwhile, Saudi club Al Ahli have submitted an initial bid of £55million to Napoli for Chelsea target Victor Osimhen.
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