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      Premier League clubs with the most football fans arrested at games revealed – is your team on the list?

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      THE Premier League clubs with the worst-behaved fans have been revealed in a shocking new league of shame.Fresh Home Office figures reveal which English clubs have topped the table for the most supporters arrested and banned last season.Supporters of West Ham United ranked first for number of arrests in new Home Office figuresCredit: PAManchester City fans were not too far behind with 88 arrestsCredit: APTeams in two major UK cities made up the shortlist of ardent fans nabbed by cops on matchday.West Ham United die-hards took the cake for the highest number of arrests, with 103.Second was Manchester City with 88, third Manchester United also with 88, fourth Arsenal with 85 and fifth Chelsea with 67.The most common offence was public disorder.read more football newsArrests rose by 14 per cent to 2,584 in connection with club and international football.Home Office statistics also revealed that there are now 2,172 banning orders in place in England and Wales, up from 1,624 a year ago.That included 821 new bans – with those serving them ordered to surrender passports and report to police stations when key matches are taking place.And following the barmy summer exploits at Euro 2024, 180 arrests were made in England and Wales of fans returning from host nation Germany after they were identified by both UK and German police during the tournament.Most read in FootballCheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the country’s top football cop, said: “Last year we arrested more than 2,500 people, a 14 per cent increase compared to the previous season.“The number of banning orders is the highest figure for nearly a decade, meaning that they cannot attend any matches, including those at international tournaments.Liverpool and Man City fans clash in huge fight on the tube before Community Shield“This undoubtedly contributed to the improvement we have seen in terms of the total number of incidents.“That is still above pre-pandemic levels but it’s encouraging to see them stabilising and going in the right direction.”He added: “It is important that these figures are put into context.“Last season around 47 million people attended men’s domestic and international matches, the highest number we have on record, and the vast majority of football fans are law-abiding citizens who want to support their team.“However, there are a small number of fans who commit offences, and we will continue to work closely with the CPS and our other partners to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.The return of hooliganismAcross the continent, authorities are struggling to control hooliganism — often aimed at travelling English fans, who receive massive police protection as continental supporters try to test their reputation for street brawling.Two months ago in Milan a Newcastle United fan was stabbed in the stomach by a machete-wielding yob in a balaclava.This season was Brighton and Hove Albion’s first taste of competitive European football.But last month in Athens, tear gas aimed by police at riotous fans of the defeated home team AEK ended up choking Brighton supporters.In May, West Ham players tried to intervene when hooded fans of Dutch side AZ Alkmaar piled into the section of the stadium where the English team’s families were sitting.Football’s ruling bodies fear the return of the hooliganism from decades ago, which in 1985 saw English teams banned from Europe for five years after the deaths of 39 mostly Italian fans in the riot at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels.“We’re also working closely with social media companies to ensure that action can be taken against those responsible for online hate crimes.“Collectively, we need to make football a safe environment for the overwhelming majority of fans who want to enjoy the game, and anyone who commits a criminal offence either outside or inside a football ground.”The Sun has reached out to all the aforementioned clubs for comment.Arsenal will be disappointed with the news given their efforts in recent yearsCredit: PAA shocking 88 fans flocking to Old Trafford were arrested for public disorder offencesCredit: GettySupporters of Chelsea ranked fifth on the shortlistCredit: Getty More

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      Man Utd legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ‘open’ to return to management with soon-to-be vacant role

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      OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has revealed the major new boss job he’d fancy.The Manchester United strike legend has been out of management since three years as Old Trafford chief ended with the sack in November 2021.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ‘wants to feel the pressure’ of management againCredit: AFPThe Norwegian was linked with Besiktas and Leicester over the summer.And he “wants to feel the pressure” of a top dugout role again.However, the 51-year-old would have to wait if he hopes to land the latest position he has now spoken out on.Solskjaer, who came on to nick United’s last-gasp Treble-clincher in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, is eyeing the Norway position.READ MORE TOP STORIESCurrent manager Stale Solbakken announced this month he will he’ll step down after their 2026 World Cup campaign.That could mean departing after the qualifiers – or staying for two more years if Norway reach the finals in North America.Home-country outlet NRK report Solskjaer as saying: “I am a proud Norwegian. “If the question comes up, when Stale finds out that he doesn’t want it anymore, I’m happy to enter into a conversation.”Most read in FootballNorway boss Stale Solbakken aims to step down after the World Cup campaignCredit: RexFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe former Cardiff and Molde boss added: “It just has to be the right job and I depend on working with the right people.”Solskjaer would also jump at the chance of going back to Old Trafford if the call ever came out. Watch Man Utd legend Solskjaer give cheeky comment about Watkins’ England winner against NetherlandsHe said: “If your family needs you, then of course they will help. “I would say ‘yes’ any day of the week. “It feels wrong to sit and talk about jobs that other people have. But of course, yes.”And if Solskjaer has even the slightest worry about his energy fading in his fifties, then ironically he can turn to the words of Solbakken for inspiration.The ex-Wolves chief, 56, said of his life once he leaves the Norway role: “While I’m still young and virile, I want to do something else too.”I’ve said no to a number of club jobs that really tempted me, but I’m determined to make one last attempt here, and then I think that’s it.”  More

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      Footballer who smashed Wayne Rooney’s record and played up top with Trent Alexander-Arnold now starring in League Two

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      GERARD GARNER once broke Wayne Rooney’s goal-scoring schoolboy record – but now stars for League Two side Barrow.The 25-year-old was pipped to reach the very top as an 11-year-old before partnering up with Trent Alexander-Arnold in a front-two in Liverpool’s academy.Gerard Garner once broke Wayne Rooney’s schoolboy goalscoring recordCredit: GettyGarner also played alongside Liverpool superstar Trent Alexander-ArnoldCredit: Neil Jones – The SunBut while Champions League winner Trent has gone on to vice-captain Liverpool, Garner is adored by Barrow fans three divisions below.The Cumbria outfit were thumped 5-0 by Chelsea in the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.But Garner came away with hat-trick hero Christopher Nkunku’s shirt.When he was 11 years old, the forward smashed Rooney’s all-time Liverpool Boys under-11s goal-scoring record with 76 goals in a season.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSAnd he did with still two games left in Kirby’s 2010-11 season.Many thought the Manchester United and England forward’s total of 72 goals in the 1996-97 term was unbeatable.Coincidentally Garner and Rooney also went to the same school in Croxteth- albeit 14 years apart.Garner told The Athletic in 2022: “You’d get a lot of people saying, ‘He’s gonna play for Liverpool, him’.”Most read in FootballBarrow posed with hat-trick hero Christopher Nkunku’s shirt at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday nightFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOn his partnership with Trent he said: “One of the best players, but when you see him as a centre-forward, you never think, ‘He’s going to be the best right-back in the world one day’.”But Garner unfortunately broke his foot while on holiday in Egypt, playing football with some Russian holidaymakers.Chelsea player ratings from 5-0 win over BarrowAfter leaving Liverpool he returned to the pitch with FleetwoodCredit: GettyThat kept him out for a significant amount of time and when he returned it was a transition from nine-a-side to 11-a-side.It was also then decided that all the Liverpool academy teams would play 4-2-3-1, often forcing him to play out of position.He left Liverpool when he was 15 years old and joined Fleetwood in 2017.Garner then caught the attention of Joey Barton, who called him up to the first team.There were loans to the likes of FC United of Manchester, Southport and Gateshead before Barrow signed him for an undisclosed club-record fee in January 2023.Garner scored an unbelievable chip against Swindon Town at the start of this season. More

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      Footballers who appeared in TV and film like David Beckham and Pele as Harry Kane makes his acting debut in porridge ad

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      FOOTBALLERS continue to swap the pitch for a TV and film screen.We’ve seen some who have wrapped up their careers and begun a new chapter in acting.Harry Kane appears in a German advert for 3Bears porridgeKane recently signed up to be the face of the cereal brandWhile others, during the pinnacle of their careers, have starred in TV ads. John Barnes, Lucozade springs immediately to mind.The most recent to make the transition is England legend Harry Kane.The 31-year-old striker recently agreed to become the face of 3Bear, a German-British porridge company based in Munich.In his first campaign for the brand, which is shot like hit TV series The Office, he stars as the “new boy” at the firm.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe 90-second mockumentary advert features Kane as a confused colleague on his first day at the office.He arrives at the 3Bears headquarters and introduces himself to co-owners Tim Nichols and Caroline Nichols.The Bayern Munich star attempts to speak to baffled workers, but they do not respond.Kane then puts a football-shaped mug on the table before asking: “So I guess breakfast is included?”Most read in FootballThe ex-Tottenham striker joins a number of football luminaries who have channelled their Robert De Niro.Vinnie Jones bags huge sum for Netflix doc about Wimbledon footie career – featuring iconic on pitch moment (1)Join SunSport in going through them.Vinnie JonesIt was British filmmaker Guy Ritchie who saw a future for the ex-Wimbledon hardman in films.He cast Vinnie as ‘Big Chris’ in 90s flick Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, in which he worked as a heavy for ‘Hatchet Harry’.A role in Snatch as ‘Bullet Tooth Tony’ followed, and he has since appeared in 109 productions, according to IMDB.He played Juggernaut in X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006 alongside Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart.And he is gearing up to star in The Gentleman – another Guy Ritchie film – that’s been turned into a TV series.Vinnie Jones first appeared on film in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsCredit: AlamyVinnie Jones, right, later appeared in Guy Ritchie’s SnatchCredit: AlamyEric CantonaMan Utd legend Cantona is another 90s footballer who caught the acting bug.He unexpectedly retired in his prime at the age of 30 in his prime to pursue his dream.The Frenchman scored his first Hollywood role opposite Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth – playing an ambassador, unsurprisingly from France.He went on to star in plenty of French films, but it was in his star turn in indie film Looking for Eric that he showed a penchant for humour. Eric Cantona appeared as a French ambassador in Elizabeth in 1998Credit: AlamyCantona’s comic turn in Looking for Eric was even betterCredit: AlamyZlatan IbrahimovicIf ever there was a man built for action movies, it has to be Zlatan.The Swedish legend has made his film debut in new Netflix film, Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom.Of course he plays a Roman centurion and gets to show off his fighting skills in one scene – flicking up a helmet with his feet, before delivering a devastating uppercut blow to a villain and knocking his opponent off his feet.Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard also appears, proving Zlatan is in great company.Zlatan Ibrahimovic stars as a Roman centurion in the new Asterix movieCredit: PatheIbrahimovic attended the film’s premiere this monthCredit: RexRonaldoYou know you’ve made it in life when you appear in The Simpsons.Brazil legend Ronaldo played himself in a 2007 episode of the hit American cartoon.Incredibly, he voiced himself in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch.Amusingly, he turns up at a football match Lisa is playing – labelling her “a flopper” after she goes down too easy following a sturdy challenge. Ronaldo appeared as himself in The SimpsonsCredit: Fox BroadcastingAlly McCoistUnbeknownst to many, Rangers and talksSPORT legend McCoist was in a movie opposite Robert Duvall in A Shot at Glory in 2000.He had to play a fictional legendary ex-Celtic player called Jackie McQuillan, which would have hurt.However, McCoist confessed he wore a Rangers jersey underneath a Celtic one while filming.Ally McCoist opposite movie legend Robert Duvall in A Shot at GloryCredit: AlamyDavid BeckhamWith his movie star looks, it’s no wonder Beckham made it in the movies.Pal Guy Ritchie cast him in two of his films, as a projectionist in 2014’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and then as Trigger in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword in 2017.In the latter, he starred with Charlie Hunnam.Hunnam told Becks on set: “I said ‘listen pal, this is my movie and I want to be the most handsome man on screen!'”David Beckham appeared in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword in 2017Credit: AlamyBeckham spotted on the set of the Guy Ritchie movieCredit: AlamyFrank LeboeufEx-Chelsea defender Leboeuf made a bizarre cameo in Oscar-nominated movie The Theory of Everything, based on the life of Stephen Hawking.The French World Cup winner popped up as a doctor in one scene, although it wasn’t his acting debut.Previously he appearedin 2001’s Taking Sides, and has also acted in several theatres as well as World War II film Allies.“Journalists have asked me what is the common point between football and theatre, but they are completely different. We are both live — that’s it,” he told The Times.Frank Leboeuf seen in The Theory of EverythingCredit: TM & © Universalread more sport featuresPeleWith his status as the best footballer on the planet in the 1960s and 70s, it was no surprise Hollywood came calling.The late Pele played the role of Corporal Luis Fernandez, a captured POW during the Second World War in the classic Escape to Victory – with Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone in starring roles too.The 1981 movie featured several footballers, including Bobby Moore and Ossie Ardiles – who are famously pitted against a German team in an exhibition match for their freedom.Pele shares a chat with Sylvester Stallone on set of 1981 film Escape to VictoryCredit: GettyPele was one of a number of footballers who appearedCredit: AlamyCarlo AncelottiIt’s a blink and you’ll miss it moment. But, the Real Madrid legend showed off his inner trekkie – appearing in Star Trek Beyond in 2016.Ancelotti’s brief cameo came at Starbase Yorktown as a doctor, kitted out in a Starfleet outfit as he examined an alien.Ancelotti said to Four Four Two: “I am a terrible actor.“I loved Star Trek as a child, so it is wonderful to be in the film now.”Carlo Ancelotti is a self-confessed Star Trek fanAncelotti appears in a blink and you’ll miss it moment in Star Trek Beyond in 2016Chris KamaraKamara turned out for Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield United – so it was only right that he would turn up on Yorkshire’s famous soap.Kammy appeared in a small role for an episode that was shown in 2019.He played a football coach and was labelled a “gobby manager” in a clash with Bear Wolf.READ MORE SUN STORIESEmmerdale viewers took to Twitter after watching the hilarious cameo.One fan said: “It’s Chris Kamara the Legend!!!! Unbelievable Jeff!!”Chris Kamara played a ‘Gobby manager’ in Emmerdale and ruffled Bear Wolf’s feathers in the soapCredit: ITV More

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      ‘I’m not at my level,’ claims £54m Chelsea star as he says ‘no one can sleep’ over competition under Enzo Maresca

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      CHELSEA stars are losing sleep over the competition in Enzo Maresca squad.The new Blues boss spent £220million after taking over in the summer following Mauricio Pochettino’s exit.Pedro Neto during a Chelsea training sessionCredit: GettyWinger Pedro Neto was a £54million addition from Wolves and has been competing to get a regular spot out wide. Neto – who took the No7 jersey from Arsenal loanee Raheem Sterling – scored his first Chelsea goal in the 5-0 League Cup drubbing of Barrow. And he admitted Maresca’s squeezed squad are only just getting used to the rotating line ups. He said: “When you arrive at a big club, it’s a new adaptation. Maybe in Wolverhampton, I was going to play maybe 90 per cent of the games.READ MORE ON football“Here, I have to work even more or maybe I’ll not play because the coach will rotate the players. “It makes you play even better because you know that you have to work.“With the amount of quality that we have here, no one can sleep. As the coach has said: ‘Everyone will not play every game’.“We have to work hard and make for ourselves and continue to to do it every weekend, every training session, every game. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”It’s the mentality that I hope can take us to the top.”Neto, 24, has made seven appearances so far this season operating on both the left and right in competition with Noni Madueke, 22. Chelsea Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace SocialBut Neto admitted: “At the moment, I’m not at my level, but I’m getting there. I know that I will arrive at my top form and I will enjoy it.“I continue to work. I continue to work on my confidence, on my football, on the adaptation, and I hope to be [at full fitness] as soon as as I can.” More

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      Preston striker charged with biting Liverpool legend Ian Rush’s nephew and could face FOUR-MONTH ban

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      PRESTON striker Milutin Osmajic has been charged with biting Blackburn star Owen Beck during the Lancashire derby on Sunday.Osmajic now faces a potential FOUR-MONTH ban from football.Milutin Osmajic has been charged by the FA for allegedly biting Owen BeckCredit: GettyThe incident occurred in the final stages of the Lancashire derby on SundayCredit: GettyMilutin Osmajic has been charged by the FACredit: RexMontenegrin forward was charged with violent and/ or improper conduct by the FA on Wednesday.Osmajic is set to the punished for allegedly attempting to take a chunk out of Rovers defender Beck, the great-nephew of Liverpool legend Ian Rush.An FA spokesperson said: “Milutin Osmajic has been charged following Preston North End’s EFL Championship game against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday, 22 September.“It’s alleged that the forward committed an act of violent conduct by biting an opponent around the 87th minute.read more football news“Milutin Osmajic has until Monday, September 30, to provide a response.”Beck was sent off for kicking out at Duane Holmes in the same incident in the game at Deepdale.The former Dundee star was embroiled in a fierce melee with Preston players during their 0-0 clash on Sunday.Beck, who is on loan from Liverpool, was dismissed for a swipe at Holmes in the aftermath of Yuki Ohashi’s foul on Osmajic.Most read in FootballBeck was confronted by Osmajic after the Preston star was sent offCredit: PAA fierce brawl then kicked off in the Lancashire derbyCredit: PAFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAn enraged Osmajic then jumped to his feet and grabbed Beck, barging him away with his head pressed into the back of his head.Beck, 22, furiously protested to referee Matthew Donohue that he had been bitten by Osmajic, who received a yellow card for his actions in the brawl.Blackburn boss John Eustace said in his post-match press conference: “Beck’s got a big bite mark on the back of his neck. He’s shown all the lads. He’s a little bit quiet, a little bit shook up.”The bad-tempered match earlier saw Preston’s Sam Greenwood sent off for a lunge at Rovers’ Lewis Baker.The punishment for biting another player is severe.In April 2013, former Liverpool ace Luis Suarez was handed a 10-match ban from football after he was found guilty of biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.Luis Suarez was found guilty of biting Branislav Ivanovic in 2021 More

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      Man City appear to score victory in legal case with Premier League as chiefs forced to withdraw proposed rule change

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      PREM chiefs were forced to withdraw a proposed strengthening of financial rules – as they were finally given the outcome of Manchester City’s legal case against them.The champions sought to overturn the Associated Party Transaction regulations over sponsorship and other income from companies linked to a club’s owners.Manchester City appear to have claimed a huge legal victory in Associated Party Transaction rulesCredit: GettyIt comes after the Prem withdrew a planned change to the rulebook related to commercial deals struck by clubsCredit: GettyCity claimed the rules were illegal, with a lengthy document branding the imposition of the regulations – which limit the amount the club can raise from Abu Dhabi-linked companies – a “tyranny of the majority”.The four-in-a-row champions are understood to have argued that the rules had been deliberately aimed at them by rivals and were both flawed and politically driven, while also questioning the cost of enforcement.After a two-week hearing in June under the Prem’s Arbitration process – with three senior Judges including former Master of the Rolls Lord Dyson sitting in judgement – it is understood to have now delivered its verdict.And while Prem bosses declined to make any comment, they did concede that a planned change to the rulebook related to the “databank” of commercial deals by clubs, had been withdrawn ahead of today’s “shareholder” meeting of the 20 clubs in central London.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThat appeared to be a victory for City, with the likelihood that there would be no point amending rules that might be either scrapped or substantially altered in the wake of the ruling, although the Etihad club refused to crow.A spokesman said: “As you know, we cannot comment on this.”Any victory for City would be a hammer blow for Prem leaders, especially chief executive Richard Masters, coming just 10 days into the long-awaited commission hearing into the “115 charges” – actually now 130 allegations – faced by the club.But at the meeting club bosses were given no information about the outcome – including any likely requirement to alter the current rulebook following the  Arbitration hearing.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAs SunSport revealed in June, under Prem rules the ruling cannot be published without the assent of both City and the League, with an expectation that it will be kept tightly under wraps.The only clear and indisputable evidence of the outcome will be if there are substantial changes to – or even scrapping of –  the current APT rules.Man City boss Pep Guardiola gives update on Rodri injury Meanwhile, clubs were told that the planned autumn introduction of Semi-Automated Offside Technology is now likely to be delayed, potentially until after Christmas.League bosses engaged American company Genius Sports to implement the new system but clubs were informed that trials were still ongoing and that the technology will not be adopted until there is satisfaction that it is foolproof.What will happen to Man City?MAN CITY are favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?Lipton: Yes…. probably! We know the case will start to be dealt with in October or November.It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.Custis: Why is that?Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future. More

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      ‘My name is Scott McTominay…’ – Ex-Man Utd star sends incredible 1,000-word open letter to Napoli fans after transfer

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      SCOTT MCTOMINAY has sent an incredible 1,000-word open letter to Napoli fans after joining the club.The midfielder completed a £25million move to the Serie A side from Manchester United last month.Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has written an open letter to Napoli fansCredit: EPAThe Scotland international joined the Serie A side on a four-year deal in AugustCredit: RexHe has made two appearances since signing a four-year deal, including his full debut vs Juventus on Saturday.Italian media outlets were left impressed with the 27-year-old’s performance as they dubbed him Napoli’s “next idol”.McTominay was also described as “a dominant all-rounder with physique, technique and personality”.He has also quickly become a fan-favourite after being mobbed by supporters on his arrival.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Scotland international has now boosted his hero status even further after penning an open letter to Napoli fans this week.He started by writing: “My name is Scott McTominay, I come from Lancaster, England and I am a central midfielder for Napoli.”My life and career have been focused exclusively on football. My family did everything they could to help me travel across England to play football with Manchester United as a child.”Then over the years I played in all categories until I made my debut in the first team and played a few games.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMcTominay spent 22 years with the Red Devils before his summer switch,During that time, he made 225 first-team appearances, scoring 29 goals and winning two major trophies.Watch Man Utd midfielder Scott McTominay passionately mobbed by Napoli fans as he jets in to seal shock £25m transferMcTominay is already a fan-favourite after starring on his full debut against JuventusCredit: GettyOn joining Napoli, he added: “The pride of playing here is really special and when I found out that Napoli was interested in me I felt the fire inside me.”I wanted to come here and push as much as possible because the fans are crazy, I would say they are some of the best fans I have ever seen. Incredible.”I can’t talk enough about the fans, the people, the city and the welcome that my teammates and coaches gave me.”As for manager Antonio Conte, he said: “When a coach of Conte’s calibre wants to bring you into his team, it fills you with confidence and the desire to show him that you are capable of giving him a lot.”The conversations we have had between us have all been very positive. He is very demanding, which is very, very positive for a player of my age.”The 1,000-word letter touched on his excitement to work under Napoli boss Antonio ConteCredit: GettyThe former Chelsea boss took over at Napoli in the summer and has already got specific staff monitoring the diets of certain players.McTominay is amongst them, with the club pledging to take extra care of his nutrition.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe signed off his message to supporters by saying: “Hello to all Napoli fans, I’m sorry that my Neapolitan is not very good, I hope to learn very soon.”Thank you so much for the warm welcome, I am very happy to be here and ready to work for you. Thank you!”Scott McTominay’s open letter to Napoli fans“My name is Scott McTominay, I come from Lancaster, England and I am a central midfielder for Napoli.“My life and career have been focused exclusively on football. My family did everything they could to help me travel across England to play football with Manchester United as a child. Then over the years I played in all categories until I made my debut in the first team and played a few games.“I was a very competitive child, I would say to the point of being too competitive for a child. The feeling of defeat always hurts more than the feeling of pride when you win. So for me it is important to have control of this aspect. Obviously now that I’m here, I want to play very well and focus on helping the team. My football idols were Wayne Rooney and Zinedine Zidane, players like that.“I always watched them a lot and wanted to pay attention to everything they did in the game and try to emulate them even as a child. The emotions that football has given me have been so many. I love this game, I love playing it and I have a great desire to win and be successful. I want to give my best every time I train and every time I play to give the best of myself, to help my teammates and the coach.“The pride of playing here is really special and when I found out that Napoli was interested in me I felt the fire inside me. I wanted to come here and push as much as possible because the fans are crazy, I would say they are some of the best fans I have ever seen. Incredible. I can’t talk enough about the fans, the people, the city and the welcome that my teammates and coaches gave me.“When a coach of Conte’s calibre wants to bring you into his team, it fills you with confidence and the desire to show him that you are capable of giving him a lot. The conversations we have had between us have all been very positive. He is very demanding, which is very, very positive for a player of my age.“I am 27 now, I am not a kid but I am not old either. So I want to be pushed to the max and I want to play to the best of my ability to show that I care a lot and that I want to do really well. Yes, Italian football is different and I really enjoyed it. Obviously there are a lot of tactical aspects that you have to understand and study…. But for me football is football. If you apply yourself and train properly and you are fit enough to come in and you are willing to learn, then you can adapt quite quickly to the way the coach wants to play and the type of game the league is playing.“So for me, it’s about focusing and doing my best, learning as much as I can in a short period of time to keep up and doing my best with a smile on my face, hopefully making the fans happy. My biggest dream as a person is to be happy. I think happiness is the best thing to aspire to in life, and that’s the only thing I focus on and try to be happy with my family, with my friends and with my girlfriend. It’s very important for me to always have a smile on my face. And in the end, when you have a smile on your face, you also play better football.“In my free time, if I go to visit family, I like to spend it with my sister and her kids, my parents, my girlfriend and her family. I like to play golf, but when you train hard you can’t play golf because you have to keep your legs rested. I like to play pool, ping pong, darts. And also running. My father was a very avid runner when he was younger. He still runs now and I still can’t beat some of his five-kilometre and ten-mile times. And he reminds me of that a lot.“Yeah, my whole family is very ambitious about sports and they take it very seriously. Something about me that no one knows about… I play backgammon, the game… It’s a board game. And maybe when I retire from soccer, I’ll be a professional backgammon player. It’s about thinking. It’s a strategic game of Greek and Turkish origin. So, yeah, I love it. I play it all the time. All the time.“Italian is not easy to follow because… I speak fast but when I hear people speaking Italian they speak really fast and it’s hard to understand exactly what they’re saying. But as time goes by, in the last two or three weeks, I’ve learned something during the training sessions, in the hotel and in the city, and when I get a house I want to get a private tutor, because I really want to learn. I want to be able to understand everything the coach and the players are saying, which will also help me on the pitch. And in general, knowing other languages ​​is an important skill to have in life.“My dream is to win the Scudetto with Napoli, to win trophies and be successful. I just want to do my best to help the team, fight for the future and push my career to the max. I want to be as fit as possible and train as hard as I can for the rest of my career, which I hope will be very long.“Hello to all Napoli fans, I’m sorry that my Neapolitan is not very good, I hope to learn very soon. Thank you so much for the warm welcome, I am very happy to be here and ready to work for you. Thank you!” More