McTominay's spectacular breakthrough

Now he is a Serie A champion, the league's best player and a top 30 candidate for the Ballon d'Or. A remarkable transformation, written by a change of position, a spirit of breaking out of his comfort zone and a passionate love of Naples.

The turning point from Conte's phone call

On August 30, 2024, McTominay left Man United after 255 games, 29 goals and the familiar image of a hard-working defensive midfielder. Napoli spent 25.7 million pounds to bring him back - a figure that did not attract attention compared to the average European transfer price. But it was here that the turning point came.

Antonio Conte, renowned for his ability to “recycle” players, saw McTominay not as a “sweeper” in front of the defense, but as a “raider” – a midfielder who would run into the box and score goals like a second striker. The idea was not new, as with the Scotland team, coach Steve Clarke had experimented with him in a similar role. But Conte turned it into a system.

The result was 12 goals in 34 Serie A games - an achievement equal to the scoring record of Conte's students at Juventus such as Claudio Marchisio (9 goals in 2011/12 season) or Arturo Vidal (10 goals in 2012/13 season). McTominay became the top scoring midfielder in the league, sharing this position with a few other second-line attacking stars.

Compare that to the change: in the Premier League, he scored just 19 goals in 178 games for Man United. At Napoli, in just one season, McTominay scored more than half that number.

If one moment summed up the season, it was his scissor kick against Cagliari on the final day that sealed Napoli’s fourth Serie A title. A cinematic goal, but also tactically significant – proof that McTominay was in the right place at the right time.

At the end of the season, he received the title of “Best Player” of Serie A. With 12 goals, dozens of successful tackles and a top position in the statistics of midfielders touching the ball in the penalty area, McTominay became an indispensable figure in the “Conte revolution”.

Get out of your comfort zone

McTominay was born in Lancaster and joined the Man United academy at the age of 5. A career in red seemed like it would have made him settle down. But the midfielder chose the opposite path: leaving his hometown and moving 1,500 miles away from his family to test himself.

“Being away from home has made me stronger. I don’t want to stay in my comfort zone. If I can go somewhere else, prove myself and play well, why not?” McTominay told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Luckily for him, his friend and Scotland teammate Billy Gilmour arrived in Napoli on the same day from Brighton. The two men provided moral support and pushed each other to improve, from learning Italian to adapting to a completely new culture and diet.

Napoli doesn't just love good players, they worship those who are committed and dedicated to the team. From Maradona to more recent icons, this city has turned its love of football into a religion.

McTominay settled in quickly: kissing the Napoli logo after a goal, interacting with fans, receiving all sorts of hilarious nicknames - from McFratm (McBro), McTerminator, MacGyver to “Apribottiglie” (bottle opener).

His image has been painted on a wall in the city centre, and appeared on a Scottish flag in an Edinburgh restaurant with the words: “Napoli. McTominay. Pizza. In that order.” Some fans have even had him tattooed on their bodies.

Ciro Sartore, owner of San Ciro's restaurant, explained: "Neapolitans love their players for their city. The fact that he kissed the Napoli logo shows how important that sentiment is. And of course, scoring goals helps a lot too."

According to journalist Vincenzo Credendino, McTominay “is the symbol of Napoli's attitude: intensity, sacrifice and determination in every game”.

It’s hard to believe that just 347 days before being nominated for the Ballon d’Or, McTominay was on the bench for Man United in the defeat to Brighton. But it was a combination of tactical change, a desire to escape his comfort zone and the emotional footballing environment of Naples that turned him into one of the 30 best players in the world .

If this story were a movie, the sequel would certainly still be written - because at 28, McTominay has just entered the most mature stage of his career. And Naples, with its fierce love, will be the stage for the "water carrier" of the year to continue to transform into Europe's top scorer.

Source: https://znews.vn/cu-but-pha-ngoan-muc-cua-mctominay-post1575182.html