Napoli’s Scott McTominay undergoes successful heart procedure

Napoli and Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay has undergone a successful heart procedure.

Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed the 29-year-old will miss their Champions League opener against Arsenal, but he is expected to return to action after the September/October international break.

McTominay was substituted in the second half of Napoli’s 2-1 home defeat against Como in August and required corrective surgery for a medical condition that Napoli confirmed as a mild, benign arrhythmia.

An arrhythmia is when the heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or is unsteady in its rhythm.

The ablation (removal or destruction of tissue, material, or a part of an object through vaporization, melting, erosion) procedure took place at Spire Manchester Hospital, his club confirmed.

Napoli released a statement saying: “The operation was a complete success. McTominay will rest for two weeks and then resume training.”

Speaking ahead of Napoli’s opening Champions League game of the season against Arsenal, Allegri confirmed midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa would also miss the fixture.

These absentees leave Allegri’s midfield options as Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour, Stanislav Lobotka and Antonio Bergara.

De Bruyne has come off the bench in each of Napoli’s three league games this season, but on his condition, Allegri added: “Kevin De Bruyne is an extraordinary player. He arrived on August 5 in the first three league games. Tomorrow he will most likely start.

“David Neres is a different story. Tomorrow morning we will see. If he is well and his knee does not bother him, he will be available, otherwise he will be available too.”

Napoli have endured a tough start to their Serie A campaign, sitting 12th in the league after losing two of their first three matches.

They host an Arsenal side who reached last season’s Champions League final and did not lose a single game in regular time during the competition. Mikel Arteta’s team have carried that consistency into the 2026-27 campaign, winning all four competitive matches they have played and conceding just one goal in the process.

“Arsenal are the favourites tomorrow against us, I think it’s normal,” Allegri said. “At the same time, we don’t have to have the ambition, the desire to play great games, but in the end we have to see the result, whether we can do it or not.

“Arsenal are a complete team. Arteta has been very fast to understand how to fix their defensive line. He very quickly managed to give balance to the team. They are very good on the ball but even better when they defend. That is the mentality he transferred to this team.”