McTominay Could Become a Star at Napoli

Scott McTominay left Manchester United to join Napoli in the final days of the summer 2024 transfer window and is gradually proving his worth in Italy.

At the end of August, Napoli’s management approved a hefty sum of 30.5 million euros to secure McTominay. For those who follow transfer news related to the Naples-based club, this was a significant investment, usually reserved for highly-rated players.

So why was manager Antonio Conte so adamant about signing McTominay, a player cast aside by Manchester United? The answer likely lies in Conte’s ability to recognize the valuable qualities of the Scottish international.

Originally a defensive midfielder, Scott McTominay didn’t fully develop in that role. Instead, he has shown himself to be better suited as a box-to-box midfielder, often operating in the final third, close to the opponent’s penalty area.

In a recent match against Juventus in Serie A’s fifth round, Conte even positioned McTominay just behind striker Romelu Lukaku. The former Manchester United midfielder displayed passion in his play, with some good passes and runs into the penalty box.

Although McTominay has only made two appearances for Napoli in Serie A this season, the early signs are promising. He comes from a big club and has scored many decisive goals in the past. This seems to be a key attraction for fans at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Napoli has a history of eccentric goal scorers, such as the late legend Diego Maradona, Edinson Cavani, Victor Osimhen, Lorenzo Insigne, and Marek Hamsik. Many unique goal scorers have become club icons, and McTominay could be next in line.

In recent weeks, Hamsik himself has compared the Scottish international to his own playing style, further raising expectations for the former Man United star. Journalist Gianluca Gifuni has also spoken in detail about McTominay’s potential, claiming that he is on his way to becoming a new idol at Napoli.

Conte has also praised McTominay’s ability inside the penalty box, admitting that the midfielder’s skill set was one of the key reasons for changing his tactical system against Juventus last Saturday.

Even when Napoli uses a 3-4-2-1 formation, McTominay can play alongside Matteo Politano, Jack Raspadori, or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. At Old Trafford, he was often forced into midfield due to a lack of options, but this won’t be the case at Napoli, where they have three reliable deep-lying midfielders.

In addition to being coached by a manager who understands his strengths and desires, McTominay is also receiving maximum support from his teammates. It wouldn’t be surprising if the midfielder shines brightly in the near future and becomes an integral part of Napoli.