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Napoli have confirmed that star midfielder Scott McTominay has successfully undergone surgery to correct a minor heart condition. The former Manchester United player was recently diagnosed with a mild benign arrhythmia, which required a specialist procedure to safeguard his long-term health and fitness.

Successful surgery for McTominay

The 29-year-old Scotland international travelled to Manchester on Tuesday to undergo the scheduled operation at Spire Manchester Hospital. Napoli supporters had been worried after the midfielder was missing from recent squad selections, but the club has now moved swiftly to reassure them that the procedure went fully according to plan. The Serie A club released an official statement to explain the situation and outline the expected timeline for his return to action.

"On Tuesday morning, Scott McTominay underwent an ablation procedure at Spire Manchester Hospital," Napoli said in a statement. "The operation was a complete success. McTominay will rest for two weeks and then resume training." The player himself has also spoken openly about the issue, making it clear to fans that the surgery was a planned precaution rather than an emergency measure. He said recently: "I'm fine, the procedure was something I'd planned to do with the club for quite a while."

Impact on Napoli and Scotland

Although the outlook is positive, the timing of the surgery is a notable setback for Massimiliano Allegri’s side in the short term. McTominay had to watch from the stands as Napoli suffered a narrow 3-2 away defeat to Serie A champions Inter last Saturday, and he is now expected to miss at least three more matches, including Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Arsenal.

Beyond club football, Scotland will also need to cope without their talismanic midfielder in the coming games. As Sebastien Pocognoli starts his spell as the new national team manager, he will be without McTominay for four important Nations League fixtures scheduled between September 26 and October 6.

Contract uncertainty in Naples

While his health is the immediate concern, McTominay’s long-term future at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona has also emerged as a major subject of discussion. Although he remains under contract until 2028, speculation has started to grow over whether he will commit to a new deal.

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna recently responded to those concerns in an interview, admitting that the negotiations are not straightforward. "Scott said he doesn't know if he'll renew at this time," Manna explained. "He has a two-year contract, we want to do it, and he wants to do it, too. It's not always easy to make things coincide, but we're trying."

A new chapter after Manchester

McTominay’s move to Italy in the summer of 2024 brought to an end a 20-year association with Manchester United, where he progressed through the academy before establishing himself as a regular in the first team. During his spell at Old Trafford, the hard-working midfielder made 255 appearances and played an important part in the club’s FA Cup and Carabao Cup successes.

His first season in Naples was hugely impressive, with McTominay playing a central role in helping deliver the league title to the city for the first time in decades. Those displays saw him win the prestigious Serie A Player of the Season award.

Napoli have made a difficult start to the current campaign and are 12th in the table after losing two of their opening three Serie A matches. They are currently six points behind the league leaders, and Allegri will be eagerly awaiting the moment his star midfielder is cleared to return to full-contact training.