Pushed out by Manchester United, Scott McTominay turned what could have been a tricky adaptation into a completely crazy 2025. After nearly 20 years spent in his training club, where he had shown his potential, but struggled to fully establish himself under Erik Ten Hag, the Scottish midfielder was no longer considered a central element of the Mancunian squad. However, his last season at Manchester United was solid, with 10 goals scored and an FA Cup won, which already proved his value on the pitch. In August 2024, he joined Naples for around 30 million euros. And upon his arrival, McTominay quickly established himself in Antonio Conte’s Neapolitan 4-3-3, alongside Anguissa, Lobotka and his compatriot Billy Gilmour, and he quickly became an essential part of the team. After his good start to the season, he also responded to criticism of his former club, saying CBS Sports : “It’s a myth. It’s too easy to blame Manchester United. In my last season there, I played well. I scored 10 goals and we won a trophy. »
Even his former teammate, Nemanja Matić, did not hide his admiration for him when he arrived in Naples: “My opinion is that Manchester United made a mistake by selling Scott McTominay. Today, it is difficult to replace a player like him. Conte is an intelligent man. » Indeed, on a collective level, McTominay was decisive in Neapolitan success. He made a decisive contribution to winning the 2024-2025 Serie A title, scoring 12 goals and providing 4 assists in the league. And for their second season together, Naples and McTominay have already won a title: the 2025 Italian Super Cup against Bologna thanks to a double from Neres (2-0) this Monday, December 22. His influence at the heart of the game allowed Napoli to balance defensive solidity and offensive creativity, offering their partners the best conditions to shine. His performances were rewarded individually as he was voted best player in Serie A 2024-2025, becoming the first Briton to win this title. Neapolitan fans immediately adopted him, giving him nicknames like “MacGyver”, “McTerminator”in reference to his ability to score the decisive goal in a match.
An inevitable change of status
Individually, McTominay had his best season of his career, with 13 goals and 4 assists in all competitions, an impressive total for a midfielder. He is logically included in the Serie A team of the season, further confirming his place among the best midfielders in the Italian championship. Even in the Ballon d’Or, he stood out by finishing 18th, ahead of players like Lautaro Martinez or João Neves, and just behind Robert Lewandowski. Antonio Conte, his coach, was full of praise: “Everyone is now talking about Højlund and McTominay… but they weren’t playing for Manchester United. There must be a reason, right? » This recognition highlights not only his impact on the field, but also his ability to have adapted to a new championship which seems to be made for him. The Scot has quickly become a leader of Conte’s team.
On the international stage, McTominay also shone with Scotland. During qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, he was one of the main architects of his country’s direct qualification. Against Denmark, in the third minute, he opened the scoring with a spectacular acrobatic return, giving his team a crucial advantage. The match turned into an epic affair, with several goals and dramatic stoppages in play, before Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean sealed the victory in the dying seconds. Supporters celebrated this historic qualification in complete euphoria at Hampden Park and across the country. According to The Herald, “pints flew, strangers kissed and even political and social antagonisms dissipated”testifying to the cultural importance of this feat. Clearly, the year 2025 will remain a pivotal year in Scott McTominay’s career.
From Manchester United to Naples, including a historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup with Scotland, he knew how to transform each challenge into an opportunity and establish himself as one of the major revelations of European football this year. With a major Serie A title, a very recent Italian Super Cup, a title of best player in the Italian championship, exceptional performances with Naples and a legendary goal with Scotland, he confirmed that he had completely changed his status. The arrival of De Bruyne during the summer transfer window ultimately changed nothing, McTominay has lost none of his influence in midfield and continues to fully assume his role as leader in the team, especially since the Belgian was seriously injured.
