Scott McTominay leaves commentator stunned in first Napoli start as fans say ex-Man Utd star ‘plays like prime Maradona’
SCOTT MCTOMINAY has had a brilliant start to life in Italy.
The Scotland international, 27, joined Napoli from Manchester United in a £25million deal last month.
GettyScott McTominay has had an impressive start to life in Italy[/caption]
A compilation of McTominay’s all-action performance vs Juventus has gone viral
McTominay was mobbed by fans as he arrived in the Italian city upon signing.
And he has endeared himself further to the Napoli faithful with his early performances.
The midfielder was brought on a substitute for his debut against Cagliari earlier this month.
Antonio Conte then brought him into his starting XI for Napoli’s clash with Juventus last weekend, fielding McTominay as a No10 in a 4-2-3-1 system.
The match finished 0-0, but the Naples new-boy impressed with his all-action display.
Italian broadcaster Riccardo Trevisani, who has long covered Serie A, even claimed that McTominay had made Juve stars look like “children”.
He said: “Seeing McTominay live is incredible, impressive: he looked like Gulliver with children, they bounced off him!
“I thought he was playing in place of (Matteo) Politano, instead Conte worked with Politano on the wing.”
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Fans were also left in awe after a compilation was posted on X.
One wrote: “This style of football suits Scott so much better. proud of the kid.”
While a second joked: “I’m seriously worrying about Serie A quality. If McTominay can play like prime Maradona I don’t rate Osimhen at all then.”
A third claimed: “Tidy shift from Scott, this league will suit him well.”
And another added: “United is a Prison. How can every player that leaves them get 10x Better.”
Next up, McTominay and Co will take on Palermo in the Coppa Italia tomorrow.
Napoli then return to Serie A action on Sunday, when they face Monza.
Manuel Ugarte the next Roy Keane
By PHIL THOMAS
NEARLY two decades have passed since Roy Keane led Manchester United into battle for the final time.
It left a gap in the engine room that the Red Devils have never really come close to filling in the 19 years that have followed.
Many tried and some managed it in flashes and, although the trophies still rolled in for a time, there was no snarling, bring-it-on warrior prowling the midfield.
Until now… until the imminent capture of a man who views a 50-50 challenge like a starving Labrador staring at a side of ham.
For three months, United have licked their own lips at the prospect of a midfield marshalled by Uruguayan tough guy Manuel Ugarte.
Finally, they have their man.
Ugarte is pretty much a ball-winner pure and simple.
Rarely will you see him pinging 40-yard passes to split a defence.
But ending his days with half the reputation of Keane and a fraction of his silverware would still mean a hell of a career.
