Wayne Rooney, Manchester United's all-time leading scorer, has called on the club to pursue a deal to re-sign Scott McTominay, the midfielder who left for Napoli in 2024.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the United legend admitted he was stunned when the club allowed the academy product to depart, arguing that McTominay was exactly the kind of player the Red Devils required.

"I couldn't believe Man United let him go when they did because he obviously works extremely hard. 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."

Rooney highlighted McTominay's versatility and his ability to contribute at the sharp end of the pitch, noting that he was operating in a more advanced midfield role and delivering goals when they mattered most.

"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."

McTominay's transformation at Napoli

Since his move to Italy, McTominay has grown into one of Serie A's most influential midfielders. Under manager Antonio Conte, he became a cornerstone of a Napoli side that delivered a historic league title, cementing his standing as a world-class operator.

That remarkable form has come at a price, however. Reports now suggest Napoli would demand around £44 million to consider selling McTominay back to his former club — a significant outlay for a side still rebuilding under their current regime.

Whether United move to meet that valuation remains to be seen, but Rooney's public endorsement adds fresh pressure on the club's hierarchy to act decisively in the transfer market.