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CAGLIARI, ITALY – MARCH 20: Scott Francis Mctominay of Napoli celebrates his goal 0-1 with the team-mates during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and SSC Napoli at Stadio Sant’Elia on March 20, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)
Scott McTominay reveals how Napoli changed him, both on and off the field, taking Scotland to the World Cup, and mocking teammate Rasmus Hojlund. ‘I love the clothes here, man.’
The midfielder represents Scotland and grew up in Manchester, where he came up through the Manchester United academy, but his career has gone into overdrive since the €30.5m transfer to Napoli in 2024.
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In his debut season, he was named Serie A Player of the Year, won the Scudetto, and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
The second wasn’t too shabby either, winning the Supercoppa Italiana and finishing second in Serie A behind Inter, then taking Scotland to their first World Cup since 1998.
McTominay a changed man at Napoli
“Whenever you come out of your comfort zone, it’s a scary place,” McTominay told British GQ. “But it’s also a beautiful place, because it gives you room to grow.”
What made such a big difference from his form at Manchester United to the transformation at Napoli?
“It was important to be playing in my regular position as a No 8, where you can attack and defend as well. So I was comfortable in my role instantly. And the manager and the coaching staff have been a big influence, helping me grow and helping me understand the game a little bit better.
“So for me, it was routine work. You just hope that the fruits of your hard work can come out and show that you’re a good player and capable of helping a team win a league, which was what happened. But now I want to repeat that. I’ve had a taste of it, and I don’t want to rest where I am. I want to continue to push boundaries.”
It is safe to say that when Napoli returned to Manchester for the Champions League to play against City, locals were a bit shocked that McTominay had experienced a Mediterranean glow-up.
“I love the clothes here, man. The clothes, the way that people dress, and the fabrics that they use. I’ve enjoyed getting used to that sort of life of presenting yourself really, really well,” he confessed.
“And whenever I go out, wearing something nice with not too many logos and stuff like that. I have a tailor who helps me out. Whenever you wear the clothes, you feel good, and it’s nice to be like that. Obviously, whatever the people say about what I wear, I can’t really control that. I just really do like the clothes.”
The Italian influence has been felt on his hairstyle too.
“I actually don’t know what happened there. I never once thought, ‘I’m going to grow this to a certain length,’ or whatever. Obviously, it needs thinning out and the ends need cutting. But when I was in Manchester, I changed my hair quite often, whereas now I’ve found something that I feel comfortable with, and I actually enjoy having longer hair. It’s a lot easier, to be honest.”
Scotland really secured qualification for the World Cup thanks to an incredible overhead kick scored by McTominay against Hojlund’s Denmark, and which has now been turned into a giant mural next to Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Hojlund was on the Danish side that time and his Napoli teammates decided to rub it in.
“We stuck every picture from that game up on his locker, me and Billy [Gilmour].”
