You want Ballon d'Or? Just leave Man United!

Napoli’s midfield dynamo Scott McTominay has reportedly earned a surprise nomination for the Ballon d’Or, following a stellar season in which he helped guide the club to the Serie A crown.

The 28-year-old made the switch from Manchester United to Naples after seven years at Old Trafford — and flourished under the guidance of Antonio Conte.

In his debut campaign with the Azzurri, McTominay netted an impressive 16 goals across 48 appearances in all competitions, playing a pivotal role as Napoli claimed their second league title in three years. According to reports, Sam C. has now put his name forward for football’s most prestigious individual honor: the Ballon d’Or.

The title race went down to the wire, with Napoli edging out Inter thanks to a crucial 2-0 win over Cagliari on the final day — a match where McTominay opened the scoring. Former United teammate Romelu Lukaku added a second, sending the city of Naples into raptures.

As the final whistle blew, McTominay was visibly emotional. Moments later, he was named Serie A Player of the Year, with teammates lifting him into the air in celebration.

Conte’s decision to deploy the Scottish international in a more attacking midfield role than he’d played at United paid off handsomely, unlocking a new goal-scoring version of the player.

Manchester's outcast is MVP in Serie A

It’s been a remarkable transformation for McTominay, who just a year ago was seen as expendable by Manchester United and sold for 25 million — a fee that now looks like one of Napoli’s smartest investments in recent memory.