McTominay's Dream Year: Serie A Glory & Ballon d'Or Nod
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.
From Manchester United Substitute to Serie A Star
The 28-year-old Napoli and Scotland midfielder earned his place on the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist just 347 days after his last appearance for Manchester United—a substitute appearance in a 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
While United struggled to a 15th-place finish, McTominay thrived in Naples following his £25.7m transfer on August 30. He netted 12 league goals, helped Napoli secure the title, and was named Serie A's MVP.
In a storybook moment, his spectacular scissor kick against Cagliari on the final matchday sealed Napoli's championship—a far cry from his "solid but unspectacular" days at Old Trafford.
How Conte Transformed McTominay into an Attacking Force
Under Antonio Conte, McTominay evolved from a defensive midfielder—what BBC pundit Pat Nevin called a "water carrier"—into a dynamic attacking threat.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke first experimented with McTominay in an advanced midfield role, and Conte followed suit. The results were staggering: 12 goals in 34 Serie A matches, making him the league's joint-top-scoring midfielder.
As journalist Vincenzo Credendino noted, "In Conte's system, he's not a builder—he's a raider." McTominay ranked among Serie A's best midfielders for touches in the opposition box and duels won.
Credendino drew parallels to Conte's past successes: "Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal scored 9-10 goals under him at Juventus. McTominay fits Conte's system perfectly."
Embracing Life in Naples
Beyond tactics, McTominay has embraced Italian culture. The Lancaster-born midfielder, who qualifies for Scotland through his father, left Manchester United after 255 appearances to challenge himself abroad.
"Living 1,500 miles away pushes me mentally," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I've always prided myself on stepping out of my comfort zone."
Having Scotland teammate Billy Gilmour alongside him eased the transition. "The lifestyle—food, culture, language—is completely different, but we've adapted together," McTominay said.
Why Napoli Fans Worship McTominay
In a city that reveres football icons like Diego Maradona, McTominay has become a cult hero. His image was painted on a city-center shrine, and fans have even gotten tattoos of him—including one viral "McFratm" (McBro) design.
"Napoli fans love players who commit to the city," said Ciro Sartore, co-owner of an Edinburgh restaurant displaying a 'Napoli. McTominay. Pizza.' flag. "Kissing the badge and scoring goals wins hearts."
McTominay himself is humbled: "The passion here is incredible. Every 'Forza Napoli' pushes us to win." As Credendino put it, "He embodies Napoli's fighting spirit—intense, sacrificial, and relentless."
