Scott McTominay: From Manchester United to Ballon d'Or Nominee

Italian champion. Serie A Player of the Year. Idolized by one of football's most passionate fanbases. And now a Ballon d'Or nominee.

If the past year has been a dream for Scott McTominay, he wouldn't want to wake up.

The 28-year-old midfielder for Napoli and Scotland secured a spot on the 30-man shortlist for the world's best player, 347 days after his last appearance for Manchester United.

That last match was as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat against Brighton.

While his former club struggled to a 15th-place finish, McTominay thrived in Naples after transferring for a bargain fee of £25.7 million on August 30.

He concluded the season with 12 league goals, helping Napoli clinch the league title while earning the title of Serie A's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

In a cinematic turn of events, it was McTominay's stunning scissor kick against Cagliari on the final day of the season that propelled Napoli towards their championship victory.

This transformation stands in stark contrast to the player who was often described as solid but unspectacular during his time at Manchester United.

So, how has he emerged as one of the top 30 footballers in the world?

Conte Transforms McTominay into a 'Raider'

McTominay has undoubtedly flourished at Napoli, largely due to a tactical shift orchestrated by manager Antonio Conte.

At Manchester United, he primarily played as a defensive midfielder—a role often referred to as a "water carrier," according to BBC pundit Pat Nevin.

Scotland even deployed him as a center-back for a time, before Steve Clarke transitioned him into an attacking midfield role.

If it worked for Clarke, it proved beneficial for Conte as well.

This tactical adjustment yielded significant results, with McTominay netting 12 goals in 34 Serie A matches, making him the joint top-scoring midfielder in the league.

In comparison, he had only scored 19 goals in 178 Premier League appearances for United.

In May, journalist Vincenzo Credendino remarked to BBC Sport, "In Conte's system, he's not a builder; he's a raider—the ideal option when you have a number nine like Romelu Lukaku."

McTominay ranked highly among midfielders for touches in the opposition penalty area and duels won in Serie A.

Credendino further noted, "You can compare McTominay with the prominent midfielders in Conte's history. In his early years at Juventus, Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal scored nine and ten goals respectively. It's not a coincidence. McTominay is perfect for Conte, just as Conte is perfect for McTominay."

Why Has McTominay Thrived in Naples?

Beyond football, McTominay, who qualifies for Scotland through his father, is enjoying life both on and off the pitch.

Born in Lancaster, England, he joined Manchester United at the age of five.

However, he chose to carve his own path after making 255 appearances for United.

Reflecting on his experience living abroad, he told BBC Radio 5 Live, "It gives you more mental strength. I've always lived very close to my mum, so I could go home whenever I wanted. Now, living 1,500 miles away means I can't just visit my family. It's different, but sometimes in life you have to step out of your comfort zone, and I've always prided myself on that. I would never want to be in my comfort zone. If I can go anywhere and establish myself, why not? Who's to stop me?"

Having his friend and Scotland teammate Billy Gilmour by his side has been a boon. Gilmour joined Napoli on the same day as McTominay from Brighton.

"It's a completely different way of life here—the food, the culture, everything," McTominay added. "Having a good friend like Billy has been fantastic. We've supported each other and pushed one another in various aspects. It's been great, and I'm someone who wants to take on challenges head-on. I want to give it my all, embrace the different culture and language, and enjoy the experience."

Why Do Napoli Fans Adore McTominay?

Napoli is a club where legends are revered in a way that's unique, most notably Diego Maradona.

Last season's triumph marked only the fourth Serie A title in Napoli's history, and McTominay has become the emblem of Conte's revolution.

His image has even been immortalized on a city center shrine.

San Ciro's restaurant in Edinburgh features a Scotland flag with the slogan 'Napoli. McTominay. Pizza. In that order.'

Ciro Sartore, co-owner of the restaurant, stated, "Napoli fans appreciate when a player commits to the city. His gesture of kissing the Napoli badge shows how much the love and appreciation mean to him. Of course, scoring goals helps too."

Fans have even gotten tattoos of him, including one that went viral depicting his nickname McFratm (essentially McBro).

Before settling on that one, he was affectionately called McTerminator, MacGyver, and apribottiglie (the bottle opener).

"The people in Naples are incredible," McTominay remarked recently. "They are so passionate, and everywhere you go, you hear 'Forza Napoli' and people want to engage with you. That inspires you every time you step on the pitch because they genuinely care. Each time we play, it motivates us to strive for victory."

Journalist Credendino concluded, "He symbolizes the spirit of this Napoli team with his intensity and commitment in every match."

Scott McTominay: From Manchester United to Ballon d'Or Nominee

Topics

Related news