Better to cherish the memories than to meet again! McTominay is considering a return to the Premier League but will not rejoin Manchester United, and it has been revealed that Barcelona is also interested in him.

Although McTominay has performed excellently at Napoli in Serie A, there have always been rumors about his return to the Premier League. However, British media have disclosed that if McTominay chooses to come back to England, he will not consider a second stint at Old Trafford. The saying "better to cherish the memories than to meet again," along with the experience of his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo after returning to the Red Devils, might be factors this Scottish international is taking into account.

McTominay had a highly successful first season in Serie A, scoring 12 goals, winning his first league title, being named the league’s most valuable player, and even ranking 18th in the Ballon d'Or final list. This season, the 28-year-old has scored 3 goals, but Napoli’s performance has not been as consistent as last year, partly because head coach Antonio Conte traditionally struggles to manage both the Champions League and the domestic league simultaneously.

Nonetheless, Napoli is only two points behind league leaders AC Milan in Serie A and still has hopes of defending their title. However, despite being idolized in Naples, this humble Scottish player feels somewhat troubled by the attention.

“Scott (McTominay) enjoys some aspects of life in Italy, and his first season was outstanding,” a source told The Sun. “But while the fans' passion is certainly a joy, it can also be overwhelming. He is treated like a god there, which means even simple tasks become difficult when he’s not training. This kind of attention can be suffocating.”

This week, the British Daily Mirror reported that Premier League clubs Tottenham and Newcastle United are interested in McTominay, and even Barcelona is monitoring his situation. McTominay is open to returning to the Premier League but is unlikely to rejoin Manchester United.

Of course, McTominay has shown great respect for his former club in public, emphasizing his pride in having played for Manchester United.

When asked about his time at Manchester United, McTominay replied, “Honestly, I feel incredibly proud. I made 255 appearances, scored some crucial goals, and won two trophies. If someone had told me at 16 that I’d achieve this, I wouldn’t have believed it. I’m very grateful to everyone I met at the club, and no matter what happens, I always wish them well. The current financial difficulties in football have forced many to leave, so what happened after I left isn’t important. What matters is that I fulfilled my dream of playing for Manchester United, and I’m proud to say that.”

McTominay also explained why many players perform better after leaving Manchester United: “Saying players have done well after leaving United is too easy an excuse. I played well in my last year too, scoring 10 goals, and we won a trophy. The attention at United is much greater, so things can seem worse. I think players get more game time after leaving, which boosts confidence and feeling, whereas at United, playing time might have been limited. At United, you have to fight hard for minutes because of players like Bruno Fernandes, who performs exceptionally. So I think blaming United alone might be too simplistic.”

However, his coach Conte was less diplomatic. After leading McTominay and another former United player, Holerund, to win the Italian Super Cup, Conte said, “People used to say Rasmus (Holerund) couldn’t play at United, and the same for McTominay. So why is that? Think about it yourselves! The coaching staff and I have work to do, and we came here for a reason. As coaches, our duty is to improve players’ knowledge and enhance their abilities. I believe all players who have trained with me have progressed, not only tactically and in positioning but also mentally.”

It is reported that McTominay’s options may not include a return to the Premier League, as he seeks greater challenges. “I’m very happy at Napoli. The people there are amazing and passionate. Wherever you go, someone shouts ‘Forza Napoli,’ they want to talk and connect with you, and every time you play, it motivates you because they care. The lifestyle is completely different, including diet and daily rhythm, which strengthens your mental resilience.”

McTominay explained, “Before, I always lived close to my mum, so I could visit whenever I wanted. Now I live 1,500 miles away and can’t see my mum, family, sister, and kids as often, so it’s different. But in life, sometimes you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and I’m proud of that. I never want to stay in my comfort zone; if I can go anywhere, make a name for myself, and succeed, why not? Who could stop me?”

Recently, McTominay has even been linked with a transfer to Barcelona. If such an opportunity arises, he might try playing in a different foreign league, choosing to challenge his limits and push himself further.