How McTominay became a Napoli icon after Man Utd exit

After a season of stealing goals, Scott McTominay was already a hero at Napoli, but as he collapsed in joy and was credited with clinching their first Serie A title, he cemented his place as a club legend.

With a second, former Manchester United team-mate Romelu Lukaku sealed the game with a fine acrobatic volley, his 12th goal of the season.

With a victory at home, Inter Milan, the champions league champions, defeated them to win their fourth Serie A title.

The Scotland midfielder was named Serie A’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for 2024-25 as soon as the final whistle came around.

I can’t come up with words. After the game, McTominay described the sacrifice that each member of the group made to help the cause as incredible, you know.

“And the people deserve it because they’ve been a part of our journey from day one,” he said. For me to experience this is a dream.

It was a brave decision to leave United, the club where he had spent almost all of his life, for a new country last summer. It appears to be a wise choice right now.

Tattoos, flags, cakes, and McTominay shrines have all been found there. also wore kilts by fans. The city of Naples treats its citizens like gods, most notably Diego Maradona.

McTominay and United wanted to adapt to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) last summer and get a different scenery.

The Lancaster-born player made the decision to switch places after spending more than 20 years with United, starting at age five at a soccer academy there.

Now, a fee of £25.7 million seems like a bargain.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, his former Old Trafford boss, recently said to BBC Sport, “How you can sell Scott is beyond me.”

And United are facing their worst season since the mid-1970s and a second campaign without Europe since 1985 as he celebrates the title with Napoli.

Former Scotland international Don Hutchison told TNT Sports, “He appears to be loving life.”

“Manchester United’s backroom staff can be proud of how they transformed him into this,” he said.

The player has been working there for four or five years, but it is moving to Napoli and gaining manager’s confidence, which has increased his value.

Yet the Napoli move almost never took place. Marco Brescianini, a Frosinone midfielder, was already receiving medical attention.

However, that choice was not made, so Brescianini moved to Atalanta and McTominay was instead placed at Napoli.

In his 34 Serie A games for Napoli, McTominay has scored 12 goals, including one in the Coppa Italia.

He was nominated for May’s Serie A player of the month in April. He is now the season’s MVP, in other words.

This year, McTominay is the highest-scoring midfielder in Serie A. In 178 Premier League games for United, he only managed 19 goals.

Conte’s team plays a more attacking central midfield role, which helps them succeed. He frequently played defensive midfield for United. He actually started out in a back three as a defender for Scotland.

Vincenzo Credendino, a journalist in Naples, said, “Conte changed his system to put him in the best conditions to play.”

While Romelu Lukaku, who plays and builds a lot for the team, is the best option when compared to Conte’s system, where he is not a builder but a raider.

In terms of duels won in Serie A and midfielders who touch the ball in the opposition penalty area, McTominay is near the top.

Amir Rrahmani’s potential argument with him came to an end on Friday, and he also took on a leadership position.

You can compare McTominay to the dominant midfielders of Conte’s time, Credendino said. Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal each scored nine and ten goals during their first seasons with Juventus (2011-12 and 2012-13), respectively.

Naples is a one-club city, but there are only a few instances of real success in their history. They genuinely revere their heroes, most notably Maradona, who was a part of their first two title victories and whose stadium is now named after.

Nobody could possibly compare McTominay to a man who can be as adored as a mere mortal can be, but he will never reach those heights.

His preferred nickname is McFratm, which roughly translates to McBro in Neapolitan slang. However, he has been referred to as the “bottle opener,” “MacGyver,” and “the bottle opener.” The score of 0-0 has been used for eight of his 12 goals.

In December, McTominay told BBC Scotland, “I saw the passionate fans, the coach, the players, and I saw an opportunity.”

“It was taken, and I never looked back. Because I knew that was what I wanted, I didn’t have to think about it for long, and I’ll never have regrets. That’s it as soon as I commit to something. No restrictions exist on my progress.

I adore this place, I adore the fans, and I adore my teammates.

A Scotland flag is displayed in San Ciro’s restaurant in Edinburgh along with the words “Napoli.” McTominay . Pizza . In that order’.

That is a lot of information for a pizza joint.

The restaurant is jointly owned by brothers Ciro and Santo Sartore, both of whom were born and raised in Scotland and have Neapolitan parents.

Ciro remarked that McTominay’s popularity is attributed to how well he has adapted to Napoli.

The player kissing the Napoli badge shows how much the love and appreciation extend to him, according to Napoli fans. Of course, scoring a lot of goals is also beneficial.

This month, a shrine to McTominay was constructed in San Nicola a Nilo.

With his intensity and sacrifice in every game, Napoli fans could not be happier, according to journalist Credendino. “He is the symbol of this Napoli’s attitude,” said the journalist.

Fans adored the player’s kiss on the shirt during the September game against Palermo, as well as his ability to learn Italian and even Neapolitan.

And a new way for him to win over Italian and Napoli fans? praising the tomatoes there.

The tomatoes, McTominay recently remarked to the Athletic, “Oh my goodness. They’re just red water, which I never consume at home.

No Scot had ever captured a Serie A title before this season.

Because McTominay was not the only Scotland midfielder they signed last summer, they now have two. Along with his friend Billy Gilmour, who is originally from Brighton, he also joined them and has contributed greatly to their success.