Scott McTominay’s arrival at Napoli last summer certainly raised eyebrows in the wider world of football, but many thought that it would be a great destination for the former Manchester United Academy graduate after he fell out of favour at Old Trafford and they decided to cash in on him.
As we edge towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign, many would argue that manager Antonio Conte has easily come out on top in this particular deal with the player committing to a four year deal after a £25 million transfer fee was agreed, and after 27 starts league starts, the 28 year old has already scored eight times as they continue their chase on Inter Milan for top spot and the Scudetto once again.
Two of those goals came in Monday evenings clash with Empoli where he helped them to a 3-0 victory on the night, and the midfielders individual performance to keep them on track for the Serie A title, saw him break a certain Paul Gascoigne’s previously set record. His brace on the day came either side of a Romelu Lukaku effort and leaves them sitting just three points behind Inter with six matches remaining in the domestic league campaign.
Many commentators on Italian football would note that with a goal tally of eight, he has now scored more than any player at his former club United apart from clear talisman Bruno Fernandes, and that also means he has eclipsed England star Gascoigne’s personal tally of six from his spell all those years ago at Lazio.
Whilst Conte will feel he has the best end of this deal, McTominay will also be delighted with how his future has planned out as he is now closing in on the first title of his career whilst his former club languish in 14th place in the table as things continue to go from bad to worse at the Red Devils.
He is not, however, the only player seeing a second lease of life at Napoli, Lukaku is also exhibiting excellent form under the gaffers’ tutelage and he has quickly taken to being more than just a traditional target man. The 31 year old not only scored against Empoli but he laid on two assists for McTominay’s goals, and it takes the Belgian to 12 league goals with ten assists for the campaign so far – a milestone and high of double figures on both counts for the first time in his long career so far, and it is even more impressive when you add in 30 games to that achievement.
Whatever Conte has done so far is working, and Napoli fans will be hoping that it is enough to get them over the line in the games that remain.
