Possibly the most adored British footballer to play abroad, talkSPORT was lucky enough to be joined by Napoli hero Scott McTominay.
He may not have the Champions League titles of a Gareth Bale at Real Madrid (yet) but when it comes to affection from one of football’s most passionate fanbases, McTominay tops the list.
A Serie A winner in his debut season in Italy, the goalscoring midfielder was a comprehensive winner of the division’s Player of the Year Award after a 12 goal and four assist league campaign.
Formerly of Manchester United for his entire youth and adult career, it may have been hard to say goodbye in the summer of 2024, but the 28-year-old has now found a new home, and the buzz has yet to wear off.
Alongside Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, McTominay discussed a number of topics in a wide ranging interview…
Napoli fans
McTominay was greeted by hundreds when he first landed in Napoli, and police claimed half a million turned out for the team’s Scudetto victory parade.
“The love and support that they give to the whole team, not just individuals, it’s special,” he said.
“It’s amazing. The people are incredibly passionate and they drive us through every single game.
“They’re probably some of the best fans that I’ve ever played in front of. Because every game that we turn up, they’re firing to push the team and to help. It’s incredible.”
Napoli’s fans lined the streets to celebrate their fourth Serie A titleAFPKevin De Bruyne and the Champions League
Due to McTominay’s incredible success, Napoli will have two new additions next season, Champions League football on their schedule, and a new teammate in the shape of Premier League legend Kevin De Bruyne.
“He’s another incredible player who’s going to bring so much to the team and the squad,” the Scotland international said of his former Manchester rival.
“You need players like that to progress, and like I was saying to my family the other day, you have to always have the next goal in mind. What’s the next dream?
“We dreamt of winning the Scudetto, but we can always dream of doing that again and going one further and doing other things.
“For us, it’s about keeping your feet on the floor and going into the next year with a fresh attitude and not relying on the fact that we won the league last year. So we’re all right.
“With stuff like that [winning the Champions League], you never know. You just have to go into the competition and give your absolute best and push for every single game and you never know where you can end up.”
Napoli are ready to go again after signing one of the greatest players in the history of English football McTominay could hardly wish for a better midfield partnerGettyConte and training
No one gave Napoli a hope at the start of the 2024/25 season, but thanks to Serie A master Antonio Conte they’re now four-time champions.
The Scudetto was Conte’s fifth after previous with Juventus and Inter Milan, while he won another title in the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017.
Notoriously a disciplinarian, Conte has again found a squad that responds to his methods, as McTominay explained: “We barely go out as a team together because we train every day and it’s relentless.
“If you win something and you’ve worked hard enough to do that you get that at the end of the year.
“We respect that though because he’s such an iconic coach, we don’t ever want to step out of line, you can have your party at the end of the year if you do well, if you don’t then take your time, take your holidays and back to work.
“I’ve always prided myself on keeping myself fit and always in shape so I never want to step too far out of line but you have to enjoy yourself and let your hair down but also go back in and ready to go.”
Conte took over a team with no hope and became a league champion for the sixth timeGetty Napoli’s players have adapted perfectly to the managerScotland and the 2026 World Cup
Despite some highs during McTominay’s time with his national team, all has not been well recently with Scotland, but it’s not too late to put things right in World Cup qualifying.
He explained: “We haven’t been through our best period, but we can always change that by having a clear mind, going into the games fresh and approaching it with everything.
“We want to go to the World Cup, and that’s our sole priority in these next games coming up.
“For us, it’s about forgetting about some poor results that we have had, but also looking into the future and taking it, staying on that.
“We haven’t got any reason to be nervous or worried about anything. You’ve just got to go for it in football, and make sure whenever your careers are done, you don’t look back at games where you were a little bit tense, a little bit worried. You’ve got to just attack it and go for it.”
McTominay’s teammates should be taking the advice of a winnerGettyMeeting the Pope
The timing of Napoli’s Serie A win meant they were one of the first guests of the new Pope Leo at Vatican City.
McTominay visited along with the squad, Conte, and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, presenting the American with a signed shirt.
“It happened quite quickly because we were celebrating,” he recalled. “Then we went to go and see him and it was incredible.
“It was a little bit surreal, to be honest, because we obviously went to bed late the night before and we got up early. It was a long day. We went on the train and it was incredible.
“It was such an honour. Whenever I said to my family we were going they couldn’t believe it. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
GettyNapoli’s celebration tour arrived at the Vatican where they met the Pope[/caption]Scottish Mount Rushmore
McTominay was asked to pick the four men who best represent Scotland when it comes to sport, and didn’t stick to just football.
“I’m going to put Andy Robertson, the Scotland captain, definitely in the mix,” he said.
“From any sport, Andy Murray‘s definitely in there, 100 per cent without a doubt. I actually watched a good video of him playing golf with his brother the other day. He can’t live without competition. He’s funny. He’s so dry.
“I totally forgot about Sir Alex[Ferguson] as well. Sir Alex is number one, to be honest. Sir Alex is the absolute pinnacle of a Scottish legend.
“Then I’ll put Steve Clarke in there. Sir Alex, Steve Clarke, Andy Murray, Andy Robertson.”
McTominay was sure to give praise to under-pressure Clarke before their World Cup qualifying campaignGettyHidden talent
Speaking with Kyrgios at Wimbledon, the pair obviously discusses tennis, with McTominay blown away by the performances of Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka.
Yet he still fancies himself with a bat, as he explained: “My girlfriend played tennis when she was younger. She loves it. She’s played in Napoli a little bit.
“But I’m a joke at table tennis. A joke. I’d lace him [Kyrgios] up at table tennis.
“I’m alright. I beat everyone who comes to the house in Naples. I’d whip him, get off my table!”
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