McTominay ‘can’t do without coffee now,’ reveals Napoli legend | OneFootball

A legend of the Napoli locker room who goes back to the Diego Maradona days has anointed Scott McTominay as a ‘Neapolitan-Scotsman’ now he ‘can’t do without our coffee.’

The Scotland international has flourished in Italy since making the move from Manchester United in 2024, as he won the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana, being named Player of the Year in Italy’s top league.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli inspect the pitch during a stadium familiarisation ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 against Manchester City at City of Manchester Stadium on September 17, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Now the 29-year-old has become a true member of the local family, embraced by an icon of the club’s history, kit man Tommy Starace.

The figure has been part of the staff since the days when Diego Armando Maradona was the star man, and one of his main jobs is keeping everyone busy with a steady supply of freshly made espresso.

Even McTominay convinced by Napoli habit

Scott McTominay and Napoli legend Tommaso Starace

“McTominay didn’t like our coffee when he arrived, but now he can’t do without it,” Starace told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“He is not Scottish. He’s a Neapolitan-Scotsman.”

Starace is also famous because former Napoli star Dries Mertens used to copy his dance moves as a goal celebration.

“I have a friendship built over the years not only with Mertens, but also Insigne, McTominay and many others.”

A big part of that is the gesture of carrying around the coffee, pouring it fresh from the Moka stovetop pot, sometimes even for television presenters and pundits who happen to be on the pitch during the warm-up.

“Coffee is not just coffee, it is love, it means respect for a person, that we are grateful to have you with us,” he added.

“We Neapolitans have a good heart, so we like to welcome everyone with the same perfume of coffee in the air.”

It is not the only Italian habit that McTominay has picked up, because he also confessed that he used to hate eating tomatoes because they “tasted like red water,” but changed his mind after trying the Neapolitan version.