McTominay ´has never expressed a desire to leave´ Napoli, insists director


Napoli director Giovanni Manna revealed that the club have not started contract extension talks with Scott McTominay, but insisted the midfielder is happy in Naples.

McTominay enjoyed a brilliant debut season with Napoli, scoring 12 goals and providing four assists as he led them to the Serie A title and won the MVP award.

And since the Scotsman joined Napoli, only Como’s Nico Paz (29) and AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic (30) have directly contributed to more goals among midfielders in the Italian top-flight than McTominay (25 – 18 goals, seven assists).

The 29-year-old signed from Manchester United for a reported €30.5m and has become one of Antonio Conte’s most important players, though he could remain on the sidelines for their match against Lecce on Saturday.

His current deal expires in June 2028, and Manna is in no rush to start contract extension talks despite McTominay’s impressive performances.

“Scott is an important player for us. He’s happy to stay at Napoli, and he proves so when he plays, and in the way he lives in the city,” Manna told SportMediaset.

“He has two years left in his contract, and we have a very honest relationship. We are talking, but it’s not a current issue.

“We are aware of Scott’s importance. We have received no offers, as the player has never expressed a desire to leave.”

Manna also revealed that Napoli are planning their future with Conte at the helm, praising the head coach’s resilience this season with an injury-hit squad.

“It’s normal, one always plans ahead. We’ve known each other for two years, and the work we’ve done has been incredible,” said the Napoli director.

“In other circumstances, we wouldn’t have been third or would have won the Supercoppa. We look to the future with serenity and tranquillity.”

Napoli are currently third in Serie A, five points clear of fifth, after back-to-back wins, while Lecce sit 16th, three points above the drop zone. They returned to winning ways last time out against Cremonese, though.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Napoli – Matteo Politano

Politano has provided four assists in 25 Serie A matches this season, as many as he did in 37 appearances in the competition last term.

The Napoli winger, however, has had more shots (36) and shots on target (eight) without scoring than any other player in Serie A this season.

Lecce – Nikola Stulic

Stulic’s three Serie A goals have all come in home matches; his last league goal away from home was last May against Charleroi for Standard Liege in the Jupiler Pro League.

It was in the same period, between April and May 2025, that the 2001-born player last scored in consecutive league appearances.

MATCH PREDICTION – NAPOLI WIN

Napoli have won five of their last six Serie A clashes against Lecce (D1), including each of the last three. The Partenopei could achieve four consecutive victories against Lecce in the top-flight for the first time.

They have also kept a clean sheet in their last five Serie A matches against Lecce; this is their longest ongoing run of consecutive clean sheets against teams currently in the top-flight.

However, the last four Serie A matches between Napoli and Lecce at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium have been finely balanced (W1 D2 L1 for both sides), after Napoli won three and drew one of the previous four encounters there against Lecce.

Lecce have won three of their last five Serie A matches (L2), scoring seven goals in the process (1.4 on average) – as many victories as they had recorded in their previous 17 games in the competition (W3 D4 L10).

Napoli, meanwhile, could win three Serie A matches in a row for the first time since November-December 2025, following their victories against Verona and Torino.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Napoli – 67.6%

Draw – 19.4%

Lecce – 13%





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