Scott McTominay Is a Man in a Hurry as He Makes His Mark at Napoli

They’ve adopted Scottish sons in Naples before now. 

Lamont Young was the first. Born in 1851, he was the son of a landowner who had emigrated to the south of Italy. An architect, he has left his indelible fingerprints on the city through his grand designs, including Grifeo Castle and Villa Ebe, his home which still perches atop the Pizzofalcone hillside. 

Now it’s the turn of another Scotsman to make his mark – and he’s wasting little time in doing so. 

Scott McTominay appears to be in a hurry. He took just 26 seconds on Friday evening to open the scoring for Napoli against Como and bag his first Serie A goal in the process. 

Linking up with Romelu Lukaku, the 27-year-old took the Belgian’s pass in his stride and fired beyond Emil Audero before many had even had the chance to take their seats inside the Diego Maradona Stadium. 

It added to his Coppa Italia strike against Palermo as he chalked up another solid performance, the kind which has seen the Azzurri faithful quickly take to him since his arrival in August. 

His energy was constantly on display in a 3-1 victory which cemented Antonio Conte’s side’s lead at the top of Serie A heading into the International break. 

Il Mattino suggested he had blown away Alberto Dossena for the first goal “like the wolf at the hut of the first little pig”. Others hailed his “incredible impact” on Italy’s top flight. 

The signs have been there. McTominay was more than capable of delivering telling moments for Manchester United when given the chance at Old Trafford. With his national team, he already possesses the aura of a talismanic figure capable of delivering key goals. 

He is now being pushed further up the pitch by Conte in his club game, too, often standing shoulder to shoulder with Lukaku in a front two when the team look to go direct.

It may leave some United supporters questioning the wisdom behind his departure. They are not alone, with club icon Rio Ferdinand previously airing his frustration at the decision.

‘I look at Scott McTominay and not every player can be a star, a standout player,’ he recently said on his own Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

‘[But] you need those players and most of them know the DNA of the club, especially the ones who have come through the academy. There’s a lot to be said for that. 

“With McTominay, you know what you’re going to get.”

United’s loss is Napoli’s gain. Their new No 8 is certainly showing a good grasp of the club’s DNA already. 

He took the opportunity to gift his match-worn top to one lucky supporter as he left the field on Friday evening, having already voiced his gratitude for the warm reception he has received to date. 

“I can’t thank the fans enough for for how much they’ve welcomed me from the first moment I’ve arrived in Napoli,” he said in his DAZN interview at full-time. 

Truth be told, McTominay’s embrace of Napoli has been just as strong. Away from the pitch, the midfielder has been seen taking in the historic sights around the city, where he is currently staying in a £450-a-night boutique hotel near the port with family. 

He’s also taken the time for gastronomic adventures, too, heading to the coast to visit Ciccotto a Marechario – a favourite among Partenopei icons past and present. 

Already, the Scot appears to be playing his way into that pantheon of local heroes, too.

‘Napoli were looking for their cavaliere after a really bad season last year, and Scott McTominay represents the hope of Napoli fans,’ Vincenzo Credendino of Calcio Napoli 24 told Destination Calcio.

“He brings great experience at Manchester United. When somebody comes to Serie A from the Premier League, he usually has a different speed, compared to other players. This appears the case with McTominay. 

“Antonio Conte has designed his Naples with a different shape because he wanted him. Napoli paid a lot of money to have him. So when the moment of using him arrived, Conte didn’t have any doubt in reshaping his team to find the space for him. 

“He can also find room in the field himself. Maybe this is the reason why Conte and other coaches love him so much. 

“He’s capable of seeing the space, making his move at the right time. Napoli has finally got its Scottish cavaliere.” 

While Manchester United couldn’t, Italy may make a star out of Scott McTominay yet.