Napoli Start Talks to Renew McTominay's Contract
Napoli have started talks to give midfielder Scott McTominay a new contract.
According to reports, the club needs to pay 7 million euros for the renewal to happen.
The talks come at an important time for Napoli, because McTominay is currently away from the team.
He has decided to have an operation on his heart.
McTominay is travelling to Liverpool to have the surgery done there.
Because he will be missing for some time, Napoli now face big choices in midfield.
The club must decide which players will take his place while he recovers.
McTominay has become a very important player for Napoli since he joined the club.
His performances have made fans and the club eager to keep him for longer.
The new contract talks show that Napoli see him as part of their future plans.
However, the 7 million euro fee needed for the renewal is not a small amount.
It is not yet clear when the deal will be completed.
Napoli will also need time to plan their midfield without him.
The club hopes the heart operation will be successful.
Fans are waiting for news about both the surgery and the contract.
For now, Napoli must focus on finding solutions in midfield.
McTominay's return to the team will depend on his recovery after the operation.
The situation shows how football clubs must deal with both business and player health at the same time.
Vocabulary10 words
- contract
- an official agreement between a player and a club
- renewal
- the act of making an agreement continue for longer
- midfield
- the central area of the pitch between defence and attack
- operation
- medical treatment where doctors work on the body
- surgery
- another word for a medical operation
- recovers
- gets better after an illness or operation
- performances
- how well someone plays in matches
- deal
- an agreement, often about money or business
- fee
- an amount of money paid for something
- solutions
- ways to solve a problem
Quiz
Answer key
1. Talks to renew his contract 2. He needs a heart operation 3. Making choices in midfield
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Napoli have started talks to give midfielder Scott McTominay a new _____.
According to reports, the club needs to pay 7 million _____ for the renewal to happen.
The talks come at an important time for Napoli, because McTominay is currently away from the _____.
He has decided to have an _____ on his heart.
McTominay is travelling to _____ to have the surgery done there.
Because he will be missing for some time, Napoli now face big choices in _____.
The club must decide which players will take his _____ while he recovers.
McTominay has become a very important _____ for Napoli since he joined the club.
The new contract talks show that Napoli see him as part of their future _____.
However, the 7 million euro _____ needed for the renewal is not a small amount.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think clubs start contract talks even when a player is injured or unwell?
- How important do you think it is for a football club to plan for a player's absence?
- What challenges do you think a club faces when a key midfielder is missing for a long time?
- Do you think 7 million euros is a lot of money for a contract renewal? Why or why not?