00:01Few players in football history have experienced as dramatic a transformation in reputation as Scott McTominay.
00:12In mid-2024, he was a 28-year-old bit-part utility for a struggling Manchester United.
00:20By the end of 2025, he was a Scudetto winner with Napoli, the Serie A Footballer of the Year
00:27and polled more Ballon d'Or votes than Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham.
00:34Alongside this, he was talismanic for his national team, scoring twice during qualification
00:40as Scotland returned to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.
00:47His crowning glory came in the final match of the group phase, a winner-takes-all clash against Denmark at
00:53Hampden Park.
00:54When he opened the scoring in the 4-2 victory with a majestic overhead volley.
01:01McTominay, from the English town of Lancaster, is a product of the United Youth System.
01:07He was somewhat of a late bloomer, not showing his true potential until a late growth spurt made him an
01:13imposing physical presence.
01:17Jose Mourinho was a fan of McTominay's work rate.
01:22Ole Gunnar Solskjaer valued his appreciation of what it meant to come through the ranks at such a historic club.
01:28And Eric Ten Hag relied on his knack of scoring crucial goals.
01:34But he was never the player a head coach built his team around, as United sought to buy their way
01:40back to success.
01:42Eventually, the club decided to cash in on an asset valued more outside Old Trafford than in.
01:50I wouldn't prefer to lose him, because he is Man United in everything.
01:57He was so important for our team, for Manchester United.
02:02He was here for over 22 years.
02:04But unfortunately, it's the rules.
02:08And we have to discuss the rules when you have to do sales.
02:13And then, obviously, homegrown players, so academy players, they bring more value.
02:19And that's not the right thing to do.
02:21But I think for everyone, for all parts, it's a good deal.
02:27For Scott, he's happy with it.
02:30Of course, for Napoli, a very good player, but also for us.
02:34In Naples, Antonio Conte unlocked McTominay's potential.
02:39Encouraging him to be physical out of possession,
02:41then get into the box to act as a late arriving second striker.
02:46The results were staggering.
02:52Imbued with this confidence, McTominay elevated his performances in Scottish Blue.
02:57The regular international since 2018, he went from a hard-working defensive midfielder,
03:02or even centre-half, to a dynamic midfield maestro.
03:07Averaging a goal every third game since 2023.
03:13He is the player Steve Clarke will build his Scotland team around
03:17as they embark on the World Cup Finals for the first time this century.
03:24And he will be the player opposition coaches will spend the most time figuring out how to stop.
03:30But as Napoli's rivals in Serie A have found out, that's no easy task.
03:35I'll see you next time.
03:37I'll see you next time.
Comments