GREAT SCOTT
Inside Scott McTominay’s career revival as ‘new Napoli leader’ with ex-Man Utd star loved by fans, coach and team-mates
Antonio Conte has waxed lyrical about the midfielder
SCOTT McTominay is taking Serie A by storm and is already a fan favourite at Napoli.
Perhaps under appreciated at Old Trafford, McTominay left Manchester United this summer to join Napoli in a £26m move.
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McTominay spent seven years with the United first team and was considered as an engine room cog that helped facilitate the Red Devils' stars - at Napoli he is the star.
The 27-year-old Scotland international has become a leader in Italy and someone that manager Antonio Conte is trying to build his team around.
It's working too - McTominay put in a Man of the Match performance and scored the winner as Napoli beat Torino 1-0 on Sunday, adding to his impressive tally at the club already.
The midfielder has managed four goals and two assists in 12 appearances this term.
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With his goals helping Napoli sit four points clear at the top of the Serie A table.
In fact, if you take away McTominay's influence then Conte's side would be sat fifth in the league.
Italian media have described the star as the "new Napoli leader" after he has become a favourite amongst the players in the dressing room.
His popularity amongst the team was exemplified when he celebrated with teammates and backroom staff after scoring his goal against Torino on Sunday.
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Included in those celebrations was Antonio Conte, the Napoli boss who has changed his formation just to ensure he can squeeze McTominay into the team.
The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss ditched his favoured 3-4-2-1 setup to shift to a 4-2-4 and a 4-3-3 to get the best out of McTominay.
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The Scot isn't getting big-headed from his influence on the pitch either, despite netting crucial goals against Torino and Inter in recent weeks.
Speaking after Sunday's performance, he said: "I've scored two important goals in the last three games, but the whole team deserves credit.
"We're improving and we've got to keep this up. The great results we're getting is proof that we're working well."
While Conte thanked the sporting director at Napoli for pushing to sign McTominay on his advice.
He said: "We quietly signed [McTominay] and the club and sporting director Giovanni Manna did a great job at understanding what he could bring to Napoli.
"But the same goes for every new recruit. We're a team that's on the up and the growth of a team happens through the steps each individual player must take every week."
He added: "It is inevitable though that if they ask me to reinforce the squad, I try to pick the best players.
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"We did well with Scott because he was not a starter at Manchester United, but I already knew him very well and we worked under the radar to bring him here.
"Of course, everyone is eager to prove themselves and I am glad that we got it right choosing McTominay."
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