SCOTT MCTOMINAY was given a hero’s welcome after being swarmed by Napoli fans ahead of his move away from Manchester United.

The Scotland international, 27, touched down in Italy at midday on Thursday as he prepared for a medical before sealing his permanent move.

Scott McTominay was mobbed by fans as he arrived in Italy

Locals swarmed Naples-Capodichino airport to meet their latest signin

McTominay thanked fans and proclaimed “Forza Napoli” to the crowd

The Scotland star was later pictured waving from his hotel balcony

The midfielder, who has spent 22 years at United, is set to join the Serie A side for £25.2m before the end of the summer window.

Hundreds of fans, with phones in hand, turned up at Naples airport to catch a glimpse of their new signing.

The United academy graduate was then ushered into a car by a security entourage, to head to his hotel before travelling to the Diego Maradona stadium.

But, before the vehicle took off, a beaming McTominay, turned to the crowd and shouted the words “Forza Napoli” much to delight of fans

His greeting almost matched the scenes awarded to Cristiano Ronaldo when he landed in Juventus in 2018, and when Lionel Messi touched down in Miami last July.

McTominay is expected to sign a long-term contract with Napoli on Thursday after agreeing personal terms with the Italian side.

He will become one of the most expensive Scottish footballers of all time, with United also including a 10 per cent sell-on clause.

Although there was a desire from Erik ten Hag to keep him at the club, they could not guarantee him the starting position he wanted.

While the current PSR rules are structured by the Premier League in a way that rewards the sale of homegrown players for ‘pure profit’.

He has one year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford.

The sale of McTominay will help to fund United’s own move for midfielder Manuel Ugarte, which is set to be announced imminently.

Sekou Kone, 18, is also undergoing his United medical on Thursday ahead of completing a move from Mali club Guidars FC.

After finishing ninth in Serie A the previous year, Napoli is rebuilding for another potential shake-up at the top of the Italian league under manager Antonio Conte.

Sporting director Giovanni Manna was in London last week for business, and they want to recruit Billy Gilmour, a midfielder from Scotland, after agreeing to pay Brighton around £12,000.

Although McTominay extended a similar welcome to Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea earlier this week, the Belgian is expected to sign a £38 million contract.