Sugo Alla Scozzese: How Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour Could Spice up Napoli’s Season with Antonio Conte
The city of Naples and its ferocious support for their club will be no different to the warmth Napoli’s new Scottish signings receive from the Tartan Army in Glasgow as a busy summer window for Conte’s side looks to prove dividends for a push of a potential trophy triumph.
Napoli were amongst the top ranked teams to break the bank this summer window with new sporting director Giovanni Manna having the tools at his disposal from president Aurelio De Laurentiis to fully equip Antonio Conte for a long season ahead.
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The signings came thick and fast however as the deadline day came closer, Gli Azzurri’s eyes were targeted on the Premier League as they made a move for both Brighton’s Billy Gilmour and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay. The Scotsmen both successfully signed with I Partenopei for a combined fee of £38M, with many of the Neapolitan faithful excited by the business completed and the arrivals of two potentially key pieces of the puzzle.
Lancastrian-born Scott McTominay was a graduate of Manchester United’s youth academy and had been a part of the Red Devils for over 20 years, starting from the very foundation of the club and making his senior debut under Mourinho in 2017. McTominay excelled in the youth ranks and quickly became a fan favourite after his debut as the supporters recognised the potential from one of their own as he proved to be pivotal in both domestic and European games.
The Scotsman enjoyed several spells under various managers such as Mourinho and Ten Hag but managed to flourish and find his footing under former United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. McTominay managed to get minutes under the recent reign of Erik Ten Hag despite the constant reliance of central midfielder Casemiro taking his spot. Despite his minutes being whittled down, he managed to come up with the goods with important goals against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City.
The past few seasons went on and the Lancastrian-born midfielder managed to clinch back-to-back cup titles in what many dubbed to be one of Manchester United’s most difficult periods in their history. An opportunity opened up for the midfielder to play regular football in an iconic setting under one of the most esteemed and experienced coaches in Italian football and that opportunity felt too good to turn down despite the longevity and loyalty to his boyhood club.
Antonio Conte looks to insert McTominay into what already looks to be a congested position for competition however this allows for the Salento-born coach to have extended depth and increased dynamism in one position with the ability to rotate. Napoli with the signing of Scott McTominay look to unlock his biggest strengths such as his physical presence on the pitch and his ability to maintain control and calmness on the ball in certain areas of the pitch.
The Scot looks to exploit defences with his meandering movement on and off the ball with his awareness to create certain passing lanes for the more advanced positions of the pitch. His vision for the game in attacking phases could augment Napoli’s chances in attack, especially with the presence of former Manchester United Romelu Lukaku, a player McTominay knows all too well about.
A key point to mention is McTominay’s ability to thrive alongside a ball-playing midfielder which allows more freedom to link up the lines in attack, as was the case with the influential movements of play with midfielder Bruno Fernandes during his time with the Red Devils. The potential to create a midfield duo with either Stanislav Lobotka or Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa could significantly influence Gli Azzuri’s style of play and strengthen the midfield in what could be proven to be the reinforcement Napoli were longing for last season.
This goes without the other Scot in the mix, Ardrossan’s Billy Gilmour, a player who had the world at his feet during his time at Rangers and Chelsea and managed to revitalise his career under Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton. A product of the Rangers youth academy, Gilmour seemed destined to be The Gers’ future moving forward however a move to London to play for Chelsea seemed to be the kickstarter in what would be the start of a successful professional career for the young Scot.
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A few years down the line, Billy Gilmour was given his senior debut by former Chelsea legend Frank Lampard and from there, the Chelsea faithful realised the promise and potential the Irvine-born midfielder had in his locker.
A decline in minutes for Gilmour meant there was no regular first-team football however played his part when called upon and a crazed campaign for Chelsea in the Champions League saw the Scot be a Champions League winner at the tender age of 19, a moment to cherish and celebrate for the boy who grew up to the thought of winning on the shores of Ayrshire.
The Blues thought it was best for his career to go on loan and had joined forces with fellow Scottish internationals Grant Hanley and Kenny McLean at Norwich City. A season which proved to be a long and difficult spell for the midfielder as he struggled to find his form and couldn’t push the Canaries to safety, conceding to the championship.
Chelsea explored the option to extend his contract however Gilmour believed his chapter at the club had come to an end and needed to relight his fire elsewhere, playing consistent first-team football. Brighton Hove and Albion came knocking and felt the Irvine-born player would fit the system alongside the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi who succeeded Graham Potter as manager.
The Seagulls believed it was necessary for the Italian to have the tools necessary to push the project of Brighton as a team to compete in the Premier League. As the seasons went on, Gilmour found himself at the forefront of the first team and was fruitful of the style of play Brighton had adopted under De Zerbi which looked to revitalise the midfielder’s career on the right track, playing football at his highest potential.
Coach De Zerbi described the midfielder as a big personality within the squad and a player who had the right attitude, a move for Gilmour which only seemed to boost his morale for seasons to come. With Gilmour now under former Chelsea manager Conte’s ranks, he looks to prove his worth in that heavily tipped midfield especially alongside new teammate Scott McTominay.
The Ardrossan-born midfielder’s arsenal is equipped with everything a midfielder needs from his range of passing to his vision of the game on and off the ball. A player deemed as one of the best young pivots in the Premier League during his time at Brighton. Gilmour’s passing and dribbling his way past opponents is what unlocked his ability to be a threat in attacking scenarios and could be a focal point to Conte’s new and dynamic style of play.
Another thing to add is how the signing of the young Scot is a stroke of genius by sporting director Manna as he fits the perfect profile to be an understudy for the well-established Slovakian Stanislav Lobotka, dubbed a midfield maestro in the past few seasons in the top flight of Italian football.
Scotland’s important international break with games in the Nations League against Poland and Portugal saw Scott McTominay grab two goals and Billy Gilmour securing a goal and assist. Despite the two losses, the Scottish duo have already got off to a solid start since signing with the club, without wearing the jersey colours of Gli Azzurri just yet.
The midfielders’ might is felt around the National Team with their presence ever so important in front of goal with the Lancastrian-born midfielder scoring 10 goals in his last 17 appearances for the National Team. Gilmour and McTominay head to their new home, Napoli, ready to join up and train with their new teammates and settle in to what has been a summer saga around the squad with the deadline day exit of Victor Osimhen on a temporary deal with Galatasaray and the ongoing talks of a contract extension with winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Conte’s side has got off to a mixed start despite the chaos, suffering with an opening day upset at the Bentegodi against Hellas Verona however bounced back with consecutive home wins against Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna and Fabio Pecchia’s Parma. The Scotsmen could be in contention to start as Napoli face an away trip to the island of Sardegna to meet Cagliari, where time will tell whether Conte plays his cards right with his latest acquisitions in midfield.
Conte cerca la cazzimma Scozzese in mezzo alla cazzimma Napoletana.
By: Lorenzo Gagliotta / @LG24Sports
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Alex Caparros – UEFA