Scott McTominay: From United Utility to Napoli’s Midfield Dynamo

In this third article of the series, we’re going to focus on Scott McTominay, a player whose reinvention has taken the football world by storm and who now has the feel of a young footballing prodigy bursting onto the scene. The Napoli faithful certainly feel that way. A player they knew very little about, and whatever they did know was mostly about someone who had his moments, but had largely faced criticism for not being a “championship-winning” player in an otherwise massively underperforming Manchester United team. 

Scott McTominay Artwork celebrating his career reinvention in Serie A.

Early Promise, but an Unclear Ceiling

McTominay joined the Manchester United academy at age six. Over two decades, he went from an undersized youth player to a physically dominant midfielder, ultimately breaking into the first team under José Mourinho in 2017. Mourinho once called him “special”, and McTominay became a go-to figure during turbulent seasons, praised for his work rate, attitude, and big-game moments, like his derby goal against Manchester City in 2020.

Despite his contributions, McTominay never nailed down a guaranteed starting role. Under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, he often found himself being used as a number six alongside Fred, a combination that never really worked for any of the parties involved. Similarly, under Erik ten Hag, he was often in and out of the starting lineup and usually used as an impact sub, which hinted at his goal-scoring prowess, especially in the 2023–24 season, which was his best in a United shirt.

However, McTominay’s time in England was often filled with disappointment and criticism. He was frequently labelled a ‘homegrown hero doing his best’, but never considered elite championship material. He constantly struggled to make the team sheet, especially in a midfield flooded with competition including Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mount, and others. By 26, he was in career limbo: reliable, but expendable.

Why 27 Was the Right Time to Move

At 27, players often enter a make-or-break phase. They’re no longer labelled as “promising”, but they’re not yet veterans either. It’s the stage where consistency, physical prime, and leadership potential all intersect. For McTominay, staying at United meant risking stagnation. There were no signs that he would break into the first team regularly ahead of someone like Bruno Fernandes. With a new manager coming in, Rúben Amorim, whose style of play doesn’t align with McTominay’s strengths, it was more than likely that he was destined to spend yet another season as a rotation player. He needed a fresh challenge, somewhere he could play to his strengths, in a position he’s comfortable in, and perhaps in a league that isn’t as frantic as the Premier League. 

That’s where strategic career planning came into play.

Once Napoli’s primary target, Marco Brescianini, saw his move fall through, Napoli set its sights on McTominay, knowing he was on the lookout for a change of scenery. This was surely the result of months of planning and meetings by Colin Murdock, who represents Scott McTominay via the Murdock Group. On the other hand, Manchester United’s financial condition and the Profit and Sustainability Rules of the Premier League presented the perfect opportunity for a transfer. As an academy graduate, McTominay’s move would register as pure accounting profit for the club.

Why Napoli Was the Perfect Fit

Napoli, a one-club city with one of the most loyal fanbases across the globe, has had its time in the spotlight with some iconic names. The biggest is undoubtedly Diego Maradona, but others include Gianfranco Zola, Gonzalo Higuaín, Edinson Cavani, and Dries Mertens. Despite having such big names represent the team over the years, they have only managed to win the Scudetto three times, the last of which came in the 2022–23 season under Luciano Spalletti, who led the team to their first title in 30 years.

Spalletti, following that season, parted ways with Napoli, giving way to Rudi Garcia, who, after a poor title defense campaign, was replaced by Antonio Conte. Known for bringing out the best in players, Conte saw McTominay not just as a useful addition but as a centerpiece of his new project. 

The Reinvention

Unlike his defensive role at United, Conte gave McTominay the freedom to attack the box and play to his strengths, and he quickly became a trusted starter. Napoli often played in a 4-3-3 formation that at times resembled a 4-2-3-1, with McTominay as the most advanced of the midfielders. He played 2,700 minutes, behind only Amir Rrahmani and Giovanni Di Lorenzo. That’s 400 minutes more than he ever managed to play in a single season with Manchester United.

His defensive metrics at United were 2.1 tackles and 6.1 possession regains per 90 minutes. At Napoli, those numbers dropped to 1.4 tackles and 4.3 regains per 90 minutes, reflecting the change in role. His attacking output, on the other hand, showed massive improvement. He averaged 2.4 shots per 90 minutes and 3.6 touches per 90 minutes in the opposition box this season, compared to just 2.7 touches per 90 in his final season at United.  

To put that into further context, among midfielders in Serie A with at least 900 minutes played this season, McTominay ranked:

• 7th for touches in the box per 90 minutes: 3.6

• 4th for shots per 90 minutes: 2.4

• 5th for shots inside the box per 90 minutes: 1.7

By the end of the season, he had:

• Named the Serie A Player of the Year for the 2024/2025 season

• 5 assists and 11 league goals, including that spectacular scissor kick

• Named in the Serie A Team of the Season

• Played over 40 matches

• Gained recognition as a leader on and off the pitch

The Off the Pitch Impact

Naples, being a one-club city, usually idolises their heroes, and the fans absolutely loved McTominay and accepted him as their own. Even though the Scottish name was a bit difficult for them to pronounce, they came up with nicknames such as McTerminator, MacGyver, Apribottiglie (the bottle opener), and McFratm, which translates to McBro in Neapolitan slang and was his personal favourite.

There were fans making tattoos, birthday cakes, and even memes depicting him as the new Pope. The McTominay frenzy was everywhere. One of the restaurants in Edinburgh, called San Ciro, which is run by two brothers who, while having lived in Scotland, are raised by Neapolitan parents, has Scotland’s flag put up in the store with a sign that says, “Napoli. McTominay. Pizza. In that order.” 

There’s something about seeing a player transform not just how they play but how they’re perceived by fans, coaches, and even themselves. McTominay’s journey from being mis-

profiled in Manchester to becoming a cult icon in Naples is a powerful reminder of how the right move, at the right time, can change everything. 

The Takeaway: A Blueprint for Late-20s Career Growth

McTominay’s story isn’t just about leaving a big club. It’s about timing, self-awareness, and the willingness to step out of your comfort zone. He had the humility to leave his boyhood club, the guidance of a smart agent, and the courage to embrace a new football culture. The result is a transformed career that is still peaking.