Scott McTominay has revealed that a call from Napoli manager Antonio Conte ignited a fire that ultimately made him join the Partenopei from Manchester United in a €30.5 million move on transfer deadline day last month, Afrosport reports.
The 27-year-old Scotland midfielder has been associated with the Red Devils since he was six, and made his debut in 2017, featuring 255 times, scoring 29 goals and providing eight assists. He also won the EFL Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
McTominay, speaking on Napoli’s YouTube channel, narrated how he was with welcomed by the fans, players and coaching staff.
“When I found out that Napoli were interested, it lit the fire inside me right away to come here and push as much as I can,” he said.
“The fans are insane, I would say some of the best fans I have ever seen or experienced. Incredible, I can’t speak highly enough of the fans and the people here.
“The welcome I’ve had from my teammates and the coach, whenever a coach like that wants to bring you in to incorporate you into the squad, it fills you with confidence. The conversations we’ve had are obviously between me and the coach, but all very positive and really demanding, which is really good for a player of my age.
“I’m 27 now, so I’m not a young kid, but I’m also not old. I want to be pushed as hard as I can. I just want to play as good as I can, to show I care about this team and want to do well.”
McTominay made his Serie A debut off the bench in a 4-0 win away to Cagliari before making his first start at Conte’s former club Juventus at the weekend which ended goalless.
He explained how Italian football was different from what he experienced in England with Man United.
He also said his ambition is to win the Serie A and other titles with Napoli, just as big names like Diego Maradona and Victor Osimhen have done in the past.
Scott is proud to be one of us!
💙 #ProudToBeNapoli | #ForzaNapoliSempre | #WelcomeMcTominay pic.twitter.com/1vUrPIhv2D
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) August 30, 2024
“Italian football is different, obviously there is a lot tactically that you have to study, but for me football is football,” he continued.
“If you train properly, look after yourself and are willing to learn, then you can adapt quickly to the way the coach wants you to play.
“It’s concentration, trying my best to learn as much as I can in a short period of time, to get up to speed and just do your best with a smile on your face.
“My dream right now is to win the championship with Napoli, win trophies, do my absolute best to help the team, strive forwards and really push my career on.
“I want to train to the maximum capabilities for the rest of my career, which hopefully will be a long time.”
Napoli are second behind Torino in the Serie A standings and will host Monza next Monday.
