Scott McTominay tallied 29 goals in 255 appearances for Manchester United before his transfer to Napoli.
An Italian champion. Serie A Player of the Year. Revered by one of football’s most ardent fan bases. And now, a Ballon d’Or nominee.
If the past year has been a dream sequence for Scott McTominay, he’d be loath to awaken.
The 28-year-old Napoli and Scotland midfielder’s inclusion on the 30-man shortlist for the world’s most prestigious individual accolade arrives 347 days following his final match for Manchester United.
That appearance was as a substitute, away to Brighton, in a 2-1 defeat.
Yet, while his boyhood club, United, languished, ultimately finishing in 15th place, McTominay was realizing a dream in Naples, following a £25.7m move on August 30.
He concluded the season with 12 league goals, Napoli clinched the league title, and McTominay was crowned Serie A’s MVP (Most Valuable Player).
And, seemingly scripted for cinematic drama, it was McTominay’s spectacular overhead kick against Cagliari on the season’s final day that propelled Napoli towards their title victory.
A stark contrast to the player often regarded as reliable but unremarkable during his time at Manchester United.
So, how has he ascended to become one of the world’s top 30 footballers?
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McTominay was associated with the Manchester United academy from the age of five
McTominay has demonstrably thrived at Napoli. However, the catalyst for this transformation was a tactical adjustment implemented by Antonio Conte.
At Manchester United, he typically functioned as a defensive midfielder – a “water carrier,” to quote BBC pundit Pat Nevin.
Scotland even deployed him at center-back for a period before Steve Clarke repositioned him in an attacking midfield role.
Evidently, what proved effective for Clarke was equally appealing to Conte.
This decision yielded significant results, as McTominay registered 12 goals in 34 Serie A appearances for Napoli, making him the league’s joint top-scoring midfielder.
In contrast, he had only scored 19 goals in 178 Premier League games for United.
In May, journalist Vincenzo Credendino told BBC Sport: “Within Conte’s system, he isn’t a builder but a raider – the optimal option when you have a number nine like Romelu Lukaku.”
McTominay ranked among the top midfielders for touches in the opposition penalty area and duels won in Serie A.
Credendino added: “McTominay can be compared to the pivotal midfielders in Conte’s history. In his initial years at Juventus – 2011-12 and 2012-13 – Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal scored nine and 10 goals, respectively.
“This isn’t coincidental. McTominay is ideally suited for Conte, just as Conte is ideally suited for McTominay.”
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Beyond the footballing aspects, McTominay – who qualifies for Scotland through his father – is embracing life both on and off the field.
Born in Lancaster, in northwest England, he joined Manchester United at the age of five.
However, last year, he decided to forge his own path after 255 appearances for United.
Reflecting on living abroad, he told BBC Radio 5 Live recently: “It cultivates greater mental fortitude.”
“I’ve always resided in close proximity to my mother, allowing me to visit whenever I desired.”
“Now, I reside 1,500 miles away, precluding spontaneous visits to my mother, family, sister, and children. It’s a different dynamic, but life occasionally necessitates stepping outside one’s comfort zone, a principle I’ve consistently embraced.
“I never want to be complacent, and if I can venture elsewhere, establish myself, and succeed, why not? Who can prevent me from doing so?”
The presence of his friend and Scotland teammate, Billy Gilmour, is also beneficial. The midfielder joined Napoli from Brighton on the same day as McTominay.
“It’s a different experience, a markedly different way of life – the dietary habits, lifestyle, and everything else,” McTominay continued.
“I’ve been fortunate to have one of my close friends, Billy Gilmour, there, and he’s been invaluable. We’ve supported each other throughout, motivating each other in various aspects.
“It’s been fantastic, and I’m someone who confronts life head-on. I simply want to go out there, give my absolute best, immerse myself in the distinct culture and language, and relish the experience.”
San Ciro’s restaurant in Edinburgh displays a Scotland flag bearing the words ‘Napoli. McTominay. Pizza. In that order.’
Napoli is a club whose legends are revered with a fervor not always witnessed elsewhere – most notably Diego Maradona.
Last season’s triumph marked only the fourth Serie A title in Napoli’s history – and McTominay became the face of Conte’s revolution.
His image was emblazoned on a city center shrine.
San Ciro’s restaurant in Edinburgh displays a Scotland flag bearing the words ‘Napoli. McTominay. Pizza. In that order.’
Ciro Sartore, who co-owns the restaurant with his brother Santo, stated: “Napoli fans cherish players who commit to the city, and his gesture of kissing the Napoli badge illustrates the depth of love and appreciation. Obviously, scoring a plethora of goals also helps.”
Fans have acquired tattoos of him, with one on a supporter’s leg – featuring his nickname McFratm (essentially McBro) – going viral.
Prior to settling on that moniker – which he claims is his favorite – he was also known as McTerminator, MacGyver, and apribottiglie (the bottle opener).
“The people in Naples are incredible,” McTominay recently remarked.
“They’re so passionate, and everywhere you go, people exclaim ‘Forza Napoli,’ eager to engage in conversation. That inspires you every time you step onto the pitch because they genuinely care.
“Every time we step onto the pitch, it’s inspiring, and we’re driven to push ourselves to go out and win.”
Journalist Credendino added: “He epitomizes the attitude of this Napoli, with his intensity and dedication in every match.”
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