McTominay given new nickname, warns Premier League fans about Serie A | OneFootball

Scott McTominay has revealed that he is commonly referred to as ‘braveheart’ by his Napoli colleagues and supporters, and has told Premier League supporters that external opinions about Serie A or LaLiga are often incorrect.

The Scotland international spoke in-depth about his time with Napoli and decision to leave Manchester United last summer in a feature interview with Rory Smith of The Athletic, published on Thursday.

McTominay spoke about the reason behind his decision to leave Manchester United, explaining that it was often difficult for a young academy graduate to ask the manager to play him in the no.8 role ahead of the likes of Paul Pogba, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, but he has since gone on to excel in that role under Antonio Conte at the Maradona.

McTominay on Napoli nickname and Serie A standard

NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Scott McTominay of Napoli battles for possession with Weston McKennie of Juventus during the Serie A match between Napoli and Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 25, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

His early performances in Naples earned him the nickname ‘braveheart’ as a result of his ferocious displays in the middle of the park.

McTominay went on to explain that supporters outside Italy often have misconceptions about the quality of football in Serie A.

He explained: “People have to be careful when people say Italy or Spain aren’t on par with the Premier League. Physically and tactically, I’ve had some of my hardest games here.”