In a season that has seen Napoli surge to the top of Serie A, former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has emerged as the heartbeat of their title charge, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning whether his old club made a costly mistake by letting him go. On April 27, 2025, McTominay’s first-half brace in a 2-0 victory over Torino at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona not only secured three crucial points for Napoli but also cemented his status as a fan favorite in Naples.
McTominay, who joined Napoli in the summer of 2024 for a reported £25 million, has been nothing short of sensational in his debut Serie A campaign. With 11 goals and 4 assists to his name, the 28-year-old Scottish international has already surpassed Denis Law’s record for the most goals by a Scottish player in a single Serie A season (10, set in 1961-62 with Torino). His latest performance against Torino—where he scored in the 7th and 41st minutes, both times capitalizing on precise crosses to outmuscle defenders—has Napoli fans dreaming of a first Scudetto since 2023.
Social media has been abuzz with reactions, particularly following a post by an X user, who shared an image of McTominay celebrating with teammates, captioning it: “Scott Francis McTominay finally adored for the amazing player that he is. He’s thriving! I love him, I miss him, I’m so bloody happy for him! The post, which has garnered significant engagement, reflects a sentiment shared by many Manchester United fans—bittersweet joy at seeing McTominay flourish, coupled with frustration over his departure.
Napoli’s success under Antonio Conte has been a team effort, with the likes of Romelu Lukaku (12 goals, 10 assists) and Alessandro Buongiorno bolstering the squad. However, McTominay’s impact has been undeniable. Conte’s tactical shift to a 4-3-3 system, inspired by McTominay’s arrival alongside fellow Scot Billy Gilmour, has allowed the midfielder to thrive as a box-to-box player, making late runs into the penalty area to devastating effect. Seven of his 11 goals this season have broken 0-0 deadlocks, a stat unmatched by any other player in Serie A.
“Conte has allowed McTominay to be the player he was always meant to be,” noted a recent article in The Guardian. “This is what the manager does best: identifying a player’s strengths and devising precise systems to exploit them.” McTominay himself remains ambitious, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport earlier this month, “I really think I could give more than I have so far. Some games I’ve ended disappointed because I could have scored more goals.”
Meanwhile, the debate rages on about Manchester United’s decision to sell McTominay, a Carrington academy graduate who made 255 appearances for the club. The transfer fee, recorded as pure profit under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), was a financial necessity for United, who are enduring their worst-ever Premier League season. However, fans and analysts are divided. “Huge mistake letting him go,” commented one user on X, a view echoed by another: “Should still be in the red of United.” Others see it differently: “Love him, happy for him, but never missed him. We move forward and so did he.”
At Napoli, McTominay has found a system and a city that adore him. With the Partenopei leading the Serie A table with 74 points after 34 games—three points clear of Inter Milan with four matches remaining—the midfielder’s contributions could prove decisive in their quest for the title. For Manchester United, however, McTominay’s meteoric rise in Italy serves as a stark reminder of what might have been. As one X user put it, “Our own fans hated one of our own… Screw the Glazers and INEOS, but always defend our own.”
As the season nears its climax, all eyes will be on McTominay to see if he can lead Napoli to glory—and whether his success will continue to fuel the narrative of a Manchester United misstep.
