Brits Abroad: Napoli's new heroes

Image by Lewis Urquhart (@calciolewis)

Napoli stands as the clearest symbol of Serie A’s transformation, a reminder that football in Italy is never just about tactics or trophies, but also identity. 

The city of Naples has always known how to turn players into something greater than athletes: heroes, symbols and even myths. 

Legends, for the Partenopei, are not remembered only for goals but for the way they embody resilience, passion and the fierce love of a people.

That tradition found an echo in the journeys of Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, which led Napoli to the glory of their fourth Scudetto, but they also opened the path to the mythicization of Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Højlund, who both left Manchester to follow the project that Antonio Conte is building. 

McTominay’s rebirth in Italy carries the same narrative power as Neapolitans - a man once overlooked, now celebrated as a warrior who found freedom under a new sky.

In the 1980s, the arrival of Diego Armando Maradona transformed the club and city itself, giving Neapolitans a new sense of identity and international recognition. After years of decline and struggles, Napoli’s recent successes have once again symbolised a renaissance. 

De Bruyne’s arrival this summer feels almost Maradonian in what it represents: a statement that Serie A, like Naples itself, still has the power to attract greatness and redefine it through its own lens.

Serie A has always been defined by its tactical brilliance, while the Premier League has built its brand on physicality and speed. 

But the lines are blurring, Serie A clubs are now bringing in Premier League’s excellence, becoming home of the biggest names in the game.

Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek at Milan alongside Lloyd Kelly at Juventus, are redesigning the Italian game, with a strong impact on both teams.

In terms of tactical evolution, it has been more like a fusion rather than a replacement. When the high intensity of the Premier League met the meticulous structure of the Serie A, a new hybrid game-style emerged; defined by controlled aggression and intelligent movements.

The result is a league (known for its strict tactics) evolving before our eyes could figure out.

Their presence in Italian football is reshaping culture, from the unconditional players-fans bond, to media and even language adapt around them. The meeting of these two football cultures led to a rediscover of each other, reinventing what it means to belong to the Serie A. 

Among this new generation of players, no one has embodied the off-pitch impact more vividly than McTominay. His journey from Manchester to Napoli has become more than a sporting success. It’s a story of connection with his new city. 

Branded as a genius by the Italian media, he became a real hero for Napoli fans, after helping them through their journey to the second Scudetto in three seasons. 

By winning the Serie A MVP award last season, McTominay truly established himself as Antonio Conte’s quintessential player, the one who helped him achieve what had been described as a miracle back in August 2024. From the moment he arrived, the city of Naples embraced him as a hero. Being a one-club city, there was room for another successor in its history. 

Carrying his team towards the finish line made him the Scudetto man, the player who sealed the title. He left his mark on people’s hearts, amplified even through the media landscape. 

After a historic brace against Torino at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona last April, the name by which the people of Naples will remember him was officially born. Thanks to his friendship with his Neapolitan born and bred teammate Pasquale Mazzocchi, McTominay was nicknamed “McFratm”, a Neapolitan slang term meaning brother, simply proving that he belongs there. 

This fusion of cultures has symbolised a drastic shift in Napoli’s reputation within European football, one that goes beyond merely qualifying for the Champions League after a year without European competitions to play. 

In many ways this could be an example of renaissance and could represent Serie A’s long-awaited rebirth. What once was a league defined by nostalgia is now rediscovering its identity through evolution. These players have also reconnected Italian football with the world beyond its borders. Their stories mirror the league’s own journey. 

If Serie A’s golden era was built on strategy and soul, the new era might be defined by connection.