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PHOTOGRAPHY Giacomo Cosua

It’s mid-afternoon and the sun is starting to set behind Napoli’s training centre at Castel Volturno when Scott McTominay emerges from the dressing room flanked by the club’s media officer. This has already been a long week for the Scottish midfielder after Napoli’s Champions League trip to Denmark. A training session followed by a photo shoot and a couple of sit-down interviews is probably not top of his wish list for a Friday. However, despite the disappointment of a 1-1 draw against ten-man Copenhagen, I can tell McTominay is looking forward to catching up.

When I last spoke with him, Scotland head coach Steve Clarke had urged him to play with a “smile on his face”. Fast forward 18 months or so and he can’t stop smiling as he continues to live la dolce vita in the capital of Campania. Naples is a city that treats its heroes as gods, and in those first few months when he lived in a hotel, McTominay occasionally used to don a hat as a disguise and walk around the Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarter) to look in astonishment at the growing array of murals, flags and even a shrine in his honour.

After a first season in which his 12 goals helped propel the Partenopei to their fourth Italian title, McTominay was voted Serie A’s Most Valuable Player as well as being nominated for the Ballon d’Or. Better yet, he has already achieved legendary status among Napoli fans, mentioned in the same breath as the iconic Diego Maradona, who almost single-handedly guided the club to their first two league crowns.

Although defeat by Chelsea after that Copenhagen draw ended their Champions League hopes this term, McTominay still has plenty to smile about. Loved and adored by supporters, appreciated by Antonio Conte for his leadership qualities, the relaxed 29-year-old tells me how he has embraced his new life in Italy, and his hopes for further success with the blue of Napoli and Scotland.

First of all, can we reflect on the mindset of Scott McTominay, the person, when he arrived in Italy 18 months ago? How have you changed in the time you’ve spent here in Naples?

I feel like I haven’t changed much. My personality’s very, very similar – if not the same – as when I was back in the UK. Maybe you feel more confidence here and you have the trust of the manager to play you a lot in the game, so I would say that’s probably the only thing that’s changed. And probably my hair, and that’s it.