Scott McTominay still needs a lot of time to learn Italian before he fully understands the wonderful compliments that the media in this country has given him. However, if the former MU star has been following sports newspapers in recent days, he will recognize a familiar word, Jolly. Italian journalists described Napoli's new signing as Antonio Conte's "Jolly".
However, Jolly here does not refer to McTominays cheerful personality. In an interview when he first debuted for Napoli, McTominay shared: "My biggest dream is to be happy. Happiness is the best thing in life and it is the only thing I focus on in my daily activities and even when competing. If your mood is comfortable, you will also play better football
In Italian, Jolly is actually the word referring to the Joker card in a suit of cards, symbolizing versatility and being able to create surprises. For Napoli, Scott McTominay is being likened to a Joker, a versatile player who can change the teams situation.
It is undeniable that McTominay has made a strong impression right from the first matches. Recruited from Man United for 30.5 million Euros at the end of the transfer window, the 27-year-old midfielder has quickly proven his worth. He made his debut in a 0-0 draw with Juventus and scored his first goal for Napoli just a few days later, coming on as a substitute in a win over Palermo in the Italian Cup.
Since then, McTominay has played the full 90 minutes in both Serie A matches, helping Napoli beat Monza and Como. Notably, in the 3-1 win over Como, the former Man United player opened the scoring just 25 seconds after the ball rolled.
Scott McTominay celebrates with fans in the Curva - who he describes as the best fans he has ever seen. On the coaching bench, Conte could not hide his joy at the joy of his students. Previously, the Italian strategist commented that McTominay is a player with goals in his DNA.
It is no surprise that Conte has made the summer transfer window top priority for Romelu Lukaku, but McTominay has also been high on his list. The Napoli captain has complained that the club's failure to sell Victor Osimhen has hindered player recruitment plans, and McTominay is one of those important targets.
Napoli has changed tactics to adapt to McTominay's playing style. From the familiar 3-5-2 formation, Gli Azzurri moved to a 4-man defense against Juventus and continued to maintain this arrangement. Napoli's tactical flexibility allowed McTominay to move freely on the left wing, occasionally retreating to support the defense but mainly operating on the attack front.
The Scotsman's quick integration into the new squad is truly encouraging. Both of his goals came in harmony with Lukaku, as the Belgian striker stepped back deep to open up space for McTominay to advance.
Although it has just started, McTominay's contribution has helped Napoli have an impressive start in Serie A with a top performance in the rankings. However, the real challenge is still waiting for them. For now, Antonio Conte's team will have to face strong opponents such as Milan, Atalanta, Inter and Roma in the next few weeks.
Of course, not everything is perfect. In the match against Como, although Napoli won, they still revealed some weaknesses when this team allowed the opponent to create many dangerous opportunities. Napoli will need to improve further if they want to aim for the Scudetto this season.
For Scott McTominay, he may have just begun his journey in Serie A, but there is no denying that the midfielder born in 1996 is an important card in Antonio Conte's squad. From fighting spirit to versatility, combined with quick integration, if he can maintain these things, McTominay will continue to become the "happy thing" of Napoli.
