Andy Robertson believes his Scotland teammate Scott McTominay has revelled in demonstrating the error of Manchester United’s ways by flourishing at Napoli.
McTominay’s dream debut season in Naples included a Serie A title and being named the league’s most valuable player. United have been widely castigated for letting the 28-year-old leave his boyhood club for £25m last summer.
Robertson, Scotland’s captain, joked that McTominay has started speaking to his international colleagues in Italian on the field. The more serious aspect is the extent to which McTominay has turned heads at a new club.
“I think he went over there with a point to prove,” said the Liverpool full-back. “I think he wanted to prove Man United wrong and prove people in the Premier League wrong. He has gone over there and done that pretty successfully. That’s credit to him, credit to his attitude and his determination to be the best version of himself. Now he is a king over there.
“At Man United he probably lacked getting that run of games consistently, he was in and out and things like that. He probably didn’t get the respect he deserves. Then he goes over there, puts in a magnificent season and fair play to him to end it with the league title.
“Even before he was at Napoli, his standards for Scotland were unbelievable. He’s getting better and better, he has taken it to a whole new level.”
Robertson has just won another Premier League title. Yet it is an indication of McTominay’s standing that it is he, rather than Robertson, who is on everyone’s lips as Scotland prepare to host Iceland in a friendly.
Robertson and his manager, Steve Clarke, are keen to shine a spotlight on Billy Gilmour. The former Chelsea and Brighton midfielder was also part of Napoli’s history-making squad. “It’s impossible to overlook Billy because he’s been excellent since he went over there,” added Robertson.
“Billy was talking about how if he goes out in Naples he can walk about a bit more freely, while Scotty is surrounded. Everyone knows how passionate their fans are so for them to love one of ours, it’s pretty special for Scotland too. They love Billy too so credit to the both of them for going over there, being successful and winning the trophy.”
Clarke was always an advocate of McTominay and Gilmour setting sail for Serie A. The Scotland manager was typically to the point when asked why it has worked out so well. “Just confidence, confidence in their own ability,” Clarke said. “The answer is that short. They’ve both got big confidence in their own ability and they’ve showcased their talent in a different league. No surprise to me.”
It is a nod to the togetherness of this Scotland squad that McTominay, Gilmour and Robertson have not shunned two June friendly games after championship celebrations. The Scots travel to Liechtenstein on Monday.
“I thought the decision of the two boys to go to Napoli was really brave, as it was for Lewis Ferguson back in the day to go to Bologna,” Clarke said. “Lewis has obviously been there a little bit longer and to be the captain of the Bologna team that lifts the Italian cup is amazing.
“The two boys going to Napoli, it’s just like a dream, to make that decision to go abroad and to end up winning Serie A against a really top Inter team. I think the last month of the season, everybody in Scotland became a Napoli fan, we were all so desperate for them to win the title. And they did.
“It was nice of Scott to turn up on the last day of the season and score another goal. Billy played that game as well and was outstanding. So Scott’s been the one that’s grabbed the headlines, but that’s not to forget Billy, who was there when they needed him when [Stanislav] Lobotka was out injured. He never let his side down. Well played both of them.”
