How McTominay became Ballon d’Or nominee

champion of Italy. Player of the Year in the Serie A. endorsed by one of football’s most devoted supporters. Currently a nominee for the Ballon d’Or.

Scott McTominay would not want to wake up if the previous year had been his dream.

The 28-year-old Napoli and Scotland midfielder’s place on the 30-man shortlist for the best player in the world was announced 347 days after his last game for Manchester United.

That served as a substitute. Towards Brighton, away. In a 2-1 defeat.

However, McTominay was living the dream in Naples after moving for a bargain £25.7 million fee on August 30, while his boyhood club United struggled to finish in 15th place.

He won the league, finished the season with 12 goals, and McTominay was named Serie A’s MVP (most valuable player).

And it was McTominay’s stunning scissor kick against Cagliari on the final day of the season that helped Napoli win the title, much like something from a script.

A far cry from the Manchester United player who would have arguably been referred to as solid but unspectacular.

At Napoli, McTominay has unmistakably excelled. However, Antonio Conte made the tactical choice that made all of this possible.

He was a “water carrier,” as BBC pundit Pat Nevin put it. He was a defensive midfielder at Manchester United.

Before Steve Clarke began playing him in an attacking midfield position, Scotland even used him at center-back for a while.

And Conte seemed to enjoy it as well if it was good enough for Clarke.

McTominay, the joint league top-scoring midfielder, scored 12 goals in 34 Serie A games for Napoli.

In contrast, he had only managed 19 goals in United’s 178 Premier League games.

The best option when you have a number nine like Romelu Lukaku is to have him raid in the system of Conte, according to journalist Vincenzo Credendino, who spoke to BBC Sport in May.

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

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.

McTominay, who is a member of Scotland through his father, enjoys life both on and off the field.

He joined Manchester United at the age of five after being born in Lancaster, north-west England.

After making 255 appearances for United, he made the decision to stand on his own two feet.

He recently mentioned living abroad and how it gives you more mental strength.

“My mother and I have always been very close, so I could travel wherever I wanted.”

It’s different because I live 1,500 miles away from my parents, my family, my sister, and my children, so it’s different, but in life you sometimes have to push yourself outside your comfort zone, and I’ve always taken advantage of that.

“If I can go anywhere, establish myself, and do well, why not?” “I would never want to be in my comfort zone. Who can I turn to for help with that?”

Billy Gilmour, his friend and Scotland teammate, is a plus. On the same day as McTominay’s arrival from Brighton, the midfielder joined Napoli.

The way you eat, the way you live, and everything else are completely different in this country, McTominay continued.

“I’m fortunate that Billy Gilmour, one of my close friends, has been fantastic with me. Along the way, we have encouraged each other and engaged in various activities.

The legends of Napoli are idolized in a way unique to other clubs, most notably Diego Maradona.

McTominay became the face of Conte’s revolution with the success of last season, which marked only Napoli’s fourth Serie A title.

A city center shrine bears his image on it.

San Ciro restaurant in Edinburgh have a Scotland flag bearing with the words ‘Napoli. McTominay. Pizza. In that order.’

The co-owner of the restaurant, Ciro Sartore, and his brother Santo, said: “Napoli fans love when a player commits to the city, and his kissing the Napoli badge shows how important the love and appreciation are to him. Of course, scoring a lot of goals is also beneficial.

He was reportedly known as McFratm (basically McBro), and one tattoo of his on a supporter’s leg went viral.

Before they settled on that one, he was also known as McTerminator, MacGyver, and apribottiglie (the bottle opener), and he claims that it is his favorite.

“Neapolitans are incredible people,” McTominay recently said.

They are so passionate, and people always say “Forza Napoli” and want to talk to you and strike up a conversation. They care because they always inspire you when you pitch.

“Every time we pitch on the pitch, it’s inspiring, and we want to push ourselves to win.”