Earlier this week, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez gave his opinion on why Argentines tend to fare so well in the Premier League.
The 2022 World Cup winner’s theory is that the natural fighting spirit of those hailing from the South American nation quickly establish themselves as fans’ favourites due to their fierce determination and their formidable will to win.
In short, they play with the desire each and every fan wants to see on the pitch. A trait summed up perfectly by Manchester United’s all-action number six.
“I think that’s why we’re so loved,” Lisandro Martinez tells La Nacion. “The fans want their players to give their lives for their club, and the Argentines do just that. We immediately blend in with the club, and the fans notice it quickly.”
Possibly for similar reasons, Scottish footballers are all the rage in Italy these days, capturing the heart of Calcio fanatics like the Argentines do in England.
- READ MORE: Who is Lisandro Martinez? Step inside the life of Manchester United’s tenacious Argentine
Napoli delighted to land Manchester United’s Scott McTominay
A trend started by Liam Henderson back in 2018, he swapped Celtic for Bari, and one that continues to this day.
Young full-backs Aaron Hickey and Josh Doig left Edinburgh for Serie A, Lewis Ferguson captained Bologna into the Champions League, and Napoli ended the summer window by spending nearly £30 million combined on Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay.
McTominay brought an emotional end to two decades at his beloved Man United when joining the 2023 Scudetto-winners for a cool £25 million.
The Carrington graduate will have to wait until after the September international break to make his Napoli bow, much to the frustration of a typically fidgety Antonio Conte.
But while news of McTominay’s departure divided the Man United fans – some disappointed to see him go and others feeling it was the right time to cash in – the reaction over in Italy to his arrival has been one of almost universal acclaim.
Not just in the media, either, but also within the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona itself.
“They are exceptional,” Napoli winger Matteo Politano tells Radio CRC of McTominay and Gilmour. “They are different but they complete a great midfield.
“Two players with personality, who will bring enthusiasm and experience.”
Napoli went from first to tenth last term. From runaway champions to missing out on European football, finishing 41 points behind Inter Milan.
Whether McTominay can help cut that gap remains to be seen.
Experienced director Pietro Lo Monaco, who has worked in key roles at the likes of Genoa and Udinese, is one of those who expects Napoli to bounce back stronger this term with McTominay’s bullish, box-crashing talents giving Conte’s midfield a genuine goal threat.
Antonio Conte tipped to take back the Scudetto
“Can Napoli compete with Inter? Absolutely yes,” Lo Monaco tells Radio Marte.
“The blue club has put together a team worthy of Conte, significantly increasing their physical profile and signing McTominay, another beast who no one has seen yet.
“He is a natural midfielder. But, in the (Scottish) national team, he also played as a central defender and in Manchester even as an attacker, as well as a midfielder. He can score goals, he stretches the team, and provides physicality in the middle.”
McTominay is also reunited in Southern Italy with his former Man United team-mate Romelu Lukaku. A proven Serie A goalscorer, Lukaku ticks another Italian giant off his hitlist after spells at Inter and Roma.
The Belgian’s arrival should also offset the shock and dreadfully mis-managed departure of Victor Osimhen to Galatasaray, Lukaku flying out of the blocks with a debut goal in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Parma.
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