Napoli face midfield gap after Scott McTominay’s ablation

Napoli’s Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay underwent a successful ablation on Tuesday at Spire Manchester Hospital, meaning he will miss the club’s Champions League opener against Arsenal and is likely to sit out all four of Scotland’s upcoming Nations League fixtures. The 29‑year‑old was the opening‑goal scorer on Friday, May 23, at the Diego Maradona stadium in Naples.

Goal against Cagliari

Scott McTominay opened the scoring for Napoli against Cagliari, slotting home the first goal of the encounter. He celebrated the strike with teammates on the pitch. The moment was captured in the club’s post‑match footage.

The match formed part of the Italian Serie A campaign and took place at the Diego Maradona stadium in Naples. Napoli hosted Cagliari on Friday, May 23, 2025. The fixture drew a sizeable home crowd in Italy.

Ablation and rest period

On Tuesday morning, Scott McTominay underwent an ablation procedure at Spire Manchester Hospital. The operation, described by Napoli as a complete success, employed a pulsed field ablation technique. The club’s statement was issued by Gregorio Borgia/AP from NAPLES, Italy.

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Napoli confirmed that McTominay will rest for two weeks before resuming training. The medical team expects a full recovery within that period. The midfielder will be monitored closely during his rehabilitation.

The ablation means McTominay will miss several Napoli fixtures, including the Champions League opener against Arsenal on Wednesday. He is also likely to sit out all four of Scotland’s upcoming Nations League games. The club acknowledged the impact on squad depth.

The 29‑year‑old was Serie A’s MVP when he helped Napoli clinch the title in 2025. He also represented Scotland at this year’s World Cup. Prior to joining Napoli in 2024, McTominay spent his entire senior career at Manchester United.

Napoli announced last week that McTominay would undergo a PFA, or pulsed field ablation, a minimally invasive method for treating heart arrhythmias. The technique targets irregular heartbeats with precise energy pulses. The club praised the procedure’s success and the player’s swift return to health.