Scott McTominay has silenced his doubters after two seasons in Naples, where the £26m signing from Manchester United became Serie A’s breakout star of 2025.
What happened to Scott McTominay in Serie A?
McTominay arrived at Napoli in summer 2024 as a £26m ($35m) holding midfielder tagged as hard-working but unspectacular. By June 2025, he had helped the Partenopei lift the Scudetto, then claimed Serie A MVP honours. His goal tally hit 27 across two campaigns, with the 29-year-old also finishing 18th in the 2026 Ballon d’Or vote.
Why his Italian job matters for McTominay
Ex-Sampdoria defender Walker, who played in Italy, told GOAL: “If you're not Italian, you're starting from way below. Everything to them, you've got to go out and re-prove yourself.” McTominay’s early months were brutal, yet he earned the respect of a fanbase that once worshipped Diego Maradona.
Kenny Miller, the ex-Scotland international, added: “He’s really acclimatised himself to life in Naples. When you’re winning things as a player, when you go into that league and you win the league and you get the MVP of the league, that’s special.” The adoration runs deep—fans chant his name, and transfer talk has already begun.
How McTominay turned the tide in Naples
The midfielder swapped a holding role for a buccaneering No.10 berth under Luciano Spalletti. His 2024/25 season saw career-best numbers, including 11 league goals. That upturn in output came despite zero top-flight goals in his United career before the move. Napoli’s title win in 2025 sealed his reputation as Serie A’s most surprising success story.
Walker stressed the mental shift: “The first year is really, really tough. So I think the more he stays, the better he’ll become as well.” McTominay’s durability—he featured in every league game last season—has also won over neutrals.
What comes next for Scott McTominay?
Speculation links McTominay to a Premier League return, yet Miller argued Naples offers something rarer than trophies: “You just feel comfortable enjoying your football.” The 29-year-old’s contract runs until 2028, and the club’s hierarchy has shown no urgency to cash in.
His 2026 World Cup finals appearance for Scotland capped a meteoric rise. With Napoli’s hierarchy praising his “mentality and hunger,” a move now looks unlikely unless a Champions League project emerges. For now, McTominay is writing his own Italian fairy tale.