Scott McTominay has experienced a remarkable rise since moving from Manchester United to Napoli, but not everyone is convinced by his performances.
Despite leading Napoli to the Serie A title and receiving a Ballon d'Or nomination, he has been heavily criticised by former midfielder Radja Nainggolan.
Since his £26m move in 2024, McTominay has become a key figure for Napoli, winning the league's MVP award and helping the club win their fourth title, even with a spectacular goal against Cagliari.
However, Nainggolan was not stingy in his assessment.
"I don't like him. He scores a lot of goals, but in the overall game... he will always reach 12-14 goals, but when he has to build the game, he doesn't have the technique to operate between the lines. He is an average player," he said.
The Belgian, known for his direct style, went on to compare himself to modern players.
He claimed that in his prime he was better than McTominay and Inter's Hakan Çalhanoğlu, but put Nicolò Barella at the top.
"Barella is above me. He doesn't always score a lot, but his goals are important and you always feel the difference when he plays," he added.
He also praised figures like Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modrić, considering them among the best in the world.
However, this assessment contradicts the reality in Naples, where McTominay has become an icon.
Within two years, he had become a much-loved figure among the fans, who nicknamed him "McFratm" and immortalized him on murals around the city. He also contributed to winning the Supercoppa Italiana in December 2025.
Although Inter look close to reclaiming the title this season, McTominay's individual value remains high, with his goals from midfield having been crucial for Antonio Conte's side./Express newspaper/
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