A yr in the past, he was barely on the radar, not to mention on a Ballon d’Or shortlist: However right now, Scott McTominay shouldn’t be solely the Italian champion, Serie A Participant of the Yr and an absolute Napoli legend, but additionally formally one of many 30 finest footballers on the planet. How on earth did this meteoric rise occur?
Fairly merely: It required a change of surroundings, a coach with a transparent plan, and a participant who was not afraid to depart his consolation zone behind. As a reward, he’s now talked about in the identical breath as Diego Maradona. At the very least amongst Napoli followers.
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Not needed in Manchester!
Simply final yr in August, McTominay was hardly greater than an abnormal squad participant at Manchester United. His final recreation? A dismal 1:2 defeat towards Brighton, during which he solely performed in its place.
The Scottish nationwide participant was symbolically blamed by many Pink Devils followers for the continuing distress of their favourite membership. The accusation: Technical limitations and easily an absence of degree for the very large objectives.
However then Napoli got here alongside and forked out round 30 million euros, a sum that right now looks as if a discount. On the finish of the season, McTominay had 12 league objectives, the Scudetto, and the title as essentially the most beneficial participant in Serie A. His spectacular bicycle kick towards Cagliari additionally paved the way in which to the championship. A script may hardly have written it extra kitschily.
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A very good Conte participant
However who’s the person behind this transformation? A change that one wouldn’t have anticipated from a 28-year-old participant on this kind. The reply is clearly: Antonio Conte.
Whereas McTominay was dismissed at United as a “defensive water provider” (quote from BBC journalist Pat Nevin), Conte positioned him additional ahead. As an aggressive box-to-box participant with a license to attain objectives.
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The consequence: In 34 Serie A video games, he scored as usually as by no means earlier than in a season. For comparability: In 178 Premier League appearances, he had solely scored 19 objectives. At Napoli, nonetheless, he was probably the most harmful midfielders within the league. And but he misplaced none of his unique tackling power and bodily presence.
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“McTominay is ideal for Conte and Conte is ideal for McTominay,” Italian analyst Vincenzo Credendino completely summed up this symbiosis.
Two Scots in Naples
Off the pitch, too, McTominay rapidly settled within the southern Italian metropolis. And that, though life removed from dwelling was initially unfamiliar. “I all the time lived near my mom. Now I am 1,500 miles away. However that is precisely what provides you psychological power,” he instructed the ‘BBC’.
The transfer overseas was a acutely aware step out of his consolation zone for him: “I do not need to stand nonetheless. I need to go all over the place and provides my finest. Who ought to cease me?”
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Who positively did not cease him: compatriot and good friend Billy Gilmour, who moved from Brighton to Napoli on precisely the identical day as McTominay. Collectively they not solely grasp the brand new recreation system. Much more putting: In addition they mastered the transition from British delicacies and tradition to Italian.
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“McFratm” turns into a crowd favourite
In Naples, McTominay is now greater than only a footballer who comes and goes. Quite a few followers received tattoos, his nickname “McFratm” (a mixture of Mc and Fratello – Italian for brother) went viral and in Edinburgh a Scottish flag hangs in a restaurant with the inscription: “Napoli. McTominay. Pizza. In that order.”
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This love is mutual. “The individuals listed here are unimaginable. They offer you power all over the place. At coaching, within the stadium, on the road,” McTominay enthuses. “They encourage you to present your finest each time.”
This inspiration apparently not solely applies to sport, but additionally to his personal clothes requirements. Whereas the previous midfield brute seemed way more like he was recurrently distributing cheekbone fractures in pubs throughout his Premier League days, he has blossomed into a real type icon within the land of vogue.
And now? Ballon d’Or!
The truth that his title now additionally seems on the distinguished Ballon d’Or record is the cherry on an already sensational Italian cream cake.
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From scapegoat to famous person inside twelve months: Scott McTominay’s rise resides proof {that a} change of surroundings is usually precisely what a footballer wants.
And who is aware of? Perhaps “McFratm” will quickly even change into “McBallond’Or”.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
📸 Francesco Pecoraro – 2025 Getty Pictures
