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Scott McTominay could be greatest EVER Brit in Serie A… Man Utd got it badly wrong letting him go, says former star

AC MILAN legend Joe Jordan reckons Scott McTominay is on course to become one of the best British exports to Italy.

And he accused his former club Manchester United of blundering by flogging him to Napoli for a bargain £25million last summer.

Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli playing soccer.
Rex
Scott McTominay has moved up a gear from his Man Utd days[/caption]
Portrait of Billy Gilmour in a Napoli soccer jersey.
Rex
Billy Gilmour now starts in Napoli’s midfield next to McTominay[/caption]
David Beckham, midfielder for A.C. Milan, playing soccer.
David Beckham had loan spells at AC Milan in 2009 and 2010
AFP
Black and white photo of Denis Law, a Manchester City and Scottish international soccer player.
The late Denis Law was a famous success in Serie A
Hulton Archive - Getty
Paul Gascoigne of Lazio in action during a Serie A match.
England icon Paul Gascoigne was a fans’ favourite at Lazio
Getty

While the Red Devils have tumbled down the table without McTominay, the Scotland midfielder is on a title charge in Italy, where his inspirational form has lifted Napoli to within three points of leaders Inter Milan.

Tomorrow it is an Auld Enemy clash in Serie A, with McTominay and fellow Scotland star Billy Gilmour taking on AC Milan’s quartet of Englishmen — Kyle Walker, Tammy Abraham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori.

Jordan, now 73, was affectionately dubbed Lo Squalo (The Shark) by Milan fans, after finishing top scorer in both of his seasons at the San Siro and is still worshipped in Italy, for his exploits with AC Milan and Verona.

However Napoli’s fanatical fans have given McTominay the ultimate accolade, dubbing him McTomadona  — after their idol Diego Maradona.

Now Jordan claims McTominay is on course to eclipse himself and previous greats such as Denis Law, John Charles, Graeme Souness, Trevor Francis, Ray Wilkins, David Platt and Paul Gascoigne, to become Serie A’s greatest ever Britalian.

He told SunSport: “I would say Scott McTominay has made much more of an impact in Italy than I did in my first season.

“He’s already much more popular than I ever was.

“I got on well with the Milan fans but it took me a bit of time to settle down to the Italian game. Since his introduction the Napoli supporters have taken to Scott right away.

Paul Ince of Inter Milan celebrating a goal.
AP:Associated Press
Paul Ince was an all-round midfield star for Inter Milan[/caption]
David Platt of Juventus F.C. in a team jersey.
David Platt was a Juventus star, also playing for Bari and Sampdoria
Getty
Ray Wilkins in AC Milan jersey.
Ray Wilkins was a pass master for AC Milan from 1984-87
Getty - Contributor

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“He has done exceptionally well, in a team that is consistently winning.

“They love him in Naples and I know what the Napolitani, are like, they’re incredible fans, absolutely fanatical about their club and their heroes. In Naples, they only support one team and that’s Napoli.”

BRITAIN'S GREATEST ITALIAN EXPORTS

Here's how 11 of the finest Brits to play in Serie A spent their years in Italy.

John Charles – Juventus, 1957-62
David Platt – Bari, 1991-92; Juventus, 1992-93; Sampdoria, 1993-95
Paul Gascoigne – Lazio, 1992-95
Jimmy Greaves – AC Milan, 1961
Trevor Francis – Sampdoria 1982-86; Atalanta, 1986-87
David Beckham – AC Milan, 2009-10, loan
Graeme Souness – Sampdoria, 1984-86
Denis Law – Torini, 1961-62
Paul Ince – Inter Milan, 1995-97
Mark Hateley – AC Milan, 1984-87
Ray Wilkins – AC Milan, 1984-87

Jimmy Greaves holding an AC Milan pennant.
Getty
Jimmy Greaves left Chelsea for a year at Milan[/caption]
Mark Hateley of AC Milan celebrating a goal.
AP:Associated Press
Another England frontman, Mark Hateley, also played for Milan[/caption]

McTominay made 178 Prem appearances for the Old Trafford outfit after coming through their youth academy, scoring 19 times and Jordan added: “I was really surprised United let Scott go during the summer.

“I don’t know all the circumstances but I thought he was doing OK at United. But, at Napoli, he’s lifted his game to another level.

“His form is consistent, his front play is good, he’s scoring goals and providing assists.”

McTominay, 28, has started in Napoli’s last 27 Serie A games, and is their second top scorer behind Romelu Lukaku — another United old boy — with seven goals and four assists.

Jordan said: “He’s hit the ground running. He’s a player who is playing with confidence and he is working under a good coach in Antonio Conte.

“Napoli did very well to sign him — but  Manchester United did very badly letting him go. United’s loss is Napoli’s gain.

“He has been helped by having Gilmour alongside him. Whenever I’ve seen Billy play for Napoli he’s done well and he has forced himself into the starting team now.

“That’s no surprise to me because he’s a good player, and crucially for an Italian coach, he keeps the ball well.”

Rarely can a battle of the Brits have meant so much to Italian supporters as both clubs desperately need three points to keep their Serie A season on track.

Scott McTominay playing in a soccer match.
Rex
McTominay has started Napoli’s last 27 top-flight matches[/caption]
Kyle Walker of A.C. Milan during a UEFA Champions League match.
Getty
Kyle Walker is in the opposition camp with AC Milan[/caption]

Milan are currently ninth — five places and six points off a Champions League qualifying place — and must win to keep their slim hopes alive.

But they also know by beating Napoli they will virtually hand the Serie A title to their deadly rivals Inter Milan, who could push six points clear of the Neapolitans with eight games remaining.

Meanwhile, Napoli know they must keep up the pressure on Inter by beating their Milanese rivals.

Jordan’s heart is with his old club Milan but his head tells him that Napoli’s home advantage gives their Scots the edge.

He said: “By chance, I actually saw the reverse game at the San Siro in October.

“My daughter lives in Milan with my two grandkids and when I visit I go to watch my old club and occasionally Verona too.

“Unfortunately Napoli were the better team on the day and deserved to win 2-0.

“They will be favourites to win at home to keep the pressure up on Inter as the two clubs fight it out for the Scudetto.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, midfielder for AC Milan and England, playing soccer.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek impressed for Milan after injury
Getty
Tammy Abraham of AC Milan playing soccer.
Striker Tammy Abraham is on loan at Milan from Roma
Getty

“Napoli haven’t won it too often but, with Scott and Billy in the team, they have a great chance provided they can handle the pressure of the run-in.

“The heat is on them to win at home. But when you have got a team as talented as Conte’s and a passionate home support, Napoli should win.”

For once, Jordan will be hoping England come out on top of Scotland — thanks to his Rossoneri roots.

He added: “I know Kyle Walker because I coached him at Tottenham, when Harry Redknapp was the manager and we sold him to Manchester City.

“He may be in his 30s now but he is a fantastic athlete — some players have pace, some have stamina, but Kyle’s blessed with both.

“Kyle’s an experienced operator so, as much as he will learn from the Italians, he’ll be passing on a wealth of knowledge to Milan’s younger players too.

Tammy Abraham is another of Milan’s Brits who I used to watch in his Bristol City days, because I’ve lived in the city for years now.

“He’s likely to be on the bench alongside Fikayo Tomori who has lost his starting place since he was red carded against Empoli.

“But Ruben Loftus-Cheek did well on his return from injury against Como recently when he came off the bench and helped turn the game around. Forza Milan!”

Gianni Rivera shaking hands with Joe Jordan.
AP:Associated Press
Milan fans dubbed Joe Jordan ‘the Shark’ after he arrived in 1981[/caption]

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Amy Huberman pokes fun at ‘romantic birthday card’ from husband Brian O’Driscoll as fans joke ‘spare room for the night’

AMY HUBERMAN revealed the “romantic” birthday card she received from husband Brian O’Driscoll.

The Irish actress turned 46 last week, with the former Ireland and Leinster centre helping her celebrate in his own cheeky way.

Woman blowing out a candle on a birthday pudding.
Instagram/amy_huberman
Amy Huberman turned 46 last week[/caption]
Birthday card with illustration of velcro shoes and the text "Another year closer to velcro shoes! Happy Birthday".
Instagram/amy_huberman
She revealed the birthday card bought for her by husband Brian O’Driscoll[/caption]

On Instagram, she shared a photo of the card that he got her, which depicted a pair of black Velcro school shoes.

Around the shoes was the message: “Another year to Velcro shoes! Happy Birthday”.

She said: “Romantic birthday card from husband” to which fans took to the comments to express their hilarity at the gesture.

One joked: “True love 🥰 😂” while a second joked: “😂😂 They cycle of life !! There are always our first pair!😂

A third said: “Ah sur’ you are not long out of the velcro runners!” and a fourth posted: “Happy birthday Amy , hubby is a brat !!! Spare room for the night!! Maybe more than one night 😮

And a fifth commented: “That really made me laugh ❤

Huberman recently opened up on what life has looked like since Brian O’Driscoll retired from rugby, admitting she doesn’t miss it.

The Ireland and Leinster icon hung up the boots in 2014, with his final international appearance being against Italy in the Six Nations.

He has remained in and around the game as a pundit, and served in that role for ITV during the 2025 Championship.

His wife Amy Huberman, however, is comfortable being on the outside looking in and revealed she has not been to a Leinster game since BO’D retired.

She told the Irish Independent: “I’ve been to some of the internationals but I haven’t been to a provincial game since Brian retired.

“I brought my son and we went with a friend who’s adjacent to her husband’s job in that world, and it was like, ‘Oh, I feel so old.’

“All the players are so young and so their partners are so young and you realise that you’re at a completely different stage now.

“It is what it is. I loved it at the time but everything moves on and I don’t miss it.

“It was brilliant but it was intense and I loved being there with my kid now and having no stress and there being no emotional currency for me in the game.

“There was something lovely about realising it’s just a different stage of life.”

CALLING IT A DAY

Last year, O’Driscoll himself reflected on when he knew his career was coming to an end before he made it official.

While appearing on Off the Ball, he was asked about when he knew it was time to call it a day.

Having noticed his impact on matches continually erode over previous seasons, the 46-year-old knew in 2013 that he would only be able to summon one final season.

The 133-times capped hero remarked that while he was still capable of delivering ‘moments’ of top quality, he’d known for a long time previously that the days of him controlling a game were already gone.

And then Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt knew it too.

O’Driscoll recalled: “It was very important for me at the end to be able to call it.

“I think I was pushing the boundaries of that. Joe Schmidt wouldn’t have had any sentiment for the following year.

“He wouldn’t have picked you on reputation. Like, he wasn’t in a mad hurry to stop me from retiring!

“I was like ‘I’m going to retire’ and he was just like ‘…alright mate.’

“It was a bit like ‘Is that it?’ End of conversation anyway.

“And that I announced it in September.

“Maybe I reinforced the thought in his head of ‘God, he’s dead right. There’s no way I would’ve been picking him next year!'”

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