The duo were reunited once more as Benfica downed Antonio Conte's Napoli on Wednesday night
08:55, 11 Dec 2025
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Jose Mourinho(Image: SmartFrame/Zuma Press)
Jose Mourinho has revealed he was gifted a Napoli shirt after being reunited with his former Manchester United player Scott McTominay after Benfica's 2-0 win over the Serie A champions.
And in typical Mourinho fashion, the veteran Portuguese coach insists it was the 'least' McTominay could do after handing the Scotland star his Old Trafford debut back in 2017. Mourinho was sacked by Turkish giants Fenerbache earlier this season in the wake of their Champions League play-off exit but made a quickfire return to manage Benfica in September, 25 years after his first brief stint with the Lisbon club.
McTominay - who is reportedly playing through the pain barrier amid Napoli's injury crisis in midfield - featured for the full 90 minutes as his side were comfortably beaten by his former manager. And Mourinho has shared details of the gift granted to him by the Tartan Army hero following the full-time whistle, as well as the brief conversation he had with the Napoli ace.
At the post-match press conference, the 62-year-old was asked about the contents of a bag he was carrying, and replied: "The bag is mine. It’s McTominay’s shirt. I gave him his debut. I benched (Paul) Pogba to let him play (at Manchester United).
"The least he could do was give me the shirt."
Expanding on their quick chat he added: "He was sad because he lost. That’s Scott, that’s the nature of winning players.
"He chatted with me for five minutes, but he lost, and he was sad.
"But he’s very happy in Naples. Winning the award for best foreign player is absolutely fantastic, it qualifies Scotland for the World Cup after so many years. He’s having a really, really good time.
"He gave Manchester United a real boost, and there’s a connection with him. When he’s 70, he’ll still remember me.
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Mourinho with Scott McTominay back in 2018(Image: Getty)
Seventeen-year old Jose Neto was given a few minutes by Mourinho in the closing stages of the win over Napoli and the two-time Champions League winner joked that he can emulate McTominay's success on the pitch.
He continued: "I told McTominay that the kids I put on in the last few minutes are the next McTominays.
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"The last one who came on (Jose Neto), I’m sure he will make history."
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