Scott McTominay's transformative impact in Serie A has been highlighted by Napoli teammate Sam Beukema, who has billed the Scottish midfielder as the strongest player in the Italian top flight. This acclaim follows McTominay's official recognition as the 2025 Serie A Player of the Year, an award that rewrote the history books by making him the first Scottish recipient, placing him alongside legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Scott McTominay's transformative impact in Serie A has been highlighted by Napoli teammate Sam Beukema, who has billed the Scottish midfielder as the strongest player in the Italian top flight. This acclaim follows McTominay's official recognition as the 2025 Serie A Player of the Year, an award that rewrote the history books by making him the first Scottish recipient, placing him alongside legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Since his £26 million move from Manchester United in 2024, McTominay has flourished in Naples. His debut season yielded a career-best 13 goals, a Serie A title, and the prestigious MVP honour, a period that also saw him help fire Scotland to their first World Cup since 1998. Beukema, speaking to Serie A's official YouTube channel, emphasized both his physical and personal qualities, stating, “I have to say my friend Scott. He’s incredibly strong, and he’s also a great human being.”
Napoli manager Antonio Conte revealed he had long been an admirer of McTominay's potential from his own time coaching in England. "I saw a great potential in this player," Conte said, expressing initial disbelief that a transfer was possible. He praised the midfielder's decision to seek a new challenge, noting, "We are not only talking about a fantastic player but a good person." This change of scenery has propelled the 29-year-old to the peak of his powers, with his performances generating transfer speculation linking him with a return to England and interest from Barcelona, despite a contract running until 2028.
Beukema also discussed the competitive landscape of Serie A, naming former Everton winger Ademola Lookman, now at Atalanta, as his toughest opponent, describing him as "quick, annoying to play against, unpredictable, very strong." He cited Alessandro Bastoni and Gleison Bremer as the league's standout defenders. As Napoli sit third in a tight title race, just two points behind leaders Juventus, the squad's mentality—forged in the city's "unique" atmosphere under Conte's "charismatic" leadership—will be tested. Their next opportunity for silverware comes in Monday's Suppercoppa Italiana final against Bologna, offering McTominay another chance to add to his burgeoning medal collection.
