Scott McTominay has cemented his status as Italian football royalty after being crowned Serie A's Player of the Season at a glittering ceremony in Milan. The Scottish midfielder, who left Manchester United for Napoli in a £25million move last year, was honoured at the Italian Footballers' Association Grand Gala on Monday night.
From Manchester to Milan: A Career Transformed
McTominay's arrival in Naples last summer was met with modest expectations, but the 28-year-old has undergone a stunning metamorphosis. Shedding his previous role as a workmanlike midfielder, he exploded into a genuine goal-scoring sensation for the Scudetto winners. His decisive contributions of 12 goals and six assists last season were instrumental in driving Napoli to the league title, earning him worship from the passionate Neapolitan fans.
At the Cala del Calcio awards, one of Italian football's most prestigious nights, McTominay joined an elite pantheon of previous winners including Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Kaka, and Andrea Pirlo. He is the first Scottish player ever to receive the honour. Dressed in a tailored dinner suit with his model girlfriend, Cam Reading, on his arm in a black dress, McTominay was the undeniable star of the show.
Embracing a New Home in Italy
Following a shower of stage sparklers and rapturous applause, McTominay paid heartfelt tribute to his adopted city. "It's sensational, it's incredible to be here and win this award," he said. "Thank you to everyone, the team, the staff, and my teammates. My bond with Napoli is special, there are so many special places here. Coming to Napoli was an easy choice, I came to the right place."
The Italian press has been effusive in its praise, with Gazzetta dello Sport dubbing him "the new leader of Napoli" and an "idol of the fans, loved by his team-mates." This adoration marks a dramatic shift from his final days at Manchester United, where he made 255 appearances and scored 29 goals, often feeling under-appreciated.
Thriving On and Off the Pitch
A key factor in McTominay's remarkable late-career surge appears to be the seamless transition he and his partner have made to life in Southern Italy. The couple have embraced the coastal city, with its UNESCO World Heritage centre and sizzling summer temperatures, with Reading previously posting on Instagram about having "fallen in love with Italy" after a trip to the Amalfi Coast.
McTominay shows no signs of slowing down. He has already notched five goals and two assists this season, continuing the form that saw him score a spectacular bicycle kick for Scotland to seal World Cup qualification against Denmark last month. His performances have helped keep Antonio Conte's Napoli side joint-top with AC Milan in what promises to be a fiercely competitive Serie A title race.
The midfielder also collected an award for his inclusion in the Serie A Team of the Season, which featured a strong contingent from Napoli and Inter Milan. With his new talisman in irresistible form, Napoli fans will be dreaming that McTominay can once again be the difference-maker in their quest to defend the title.
