In brief
After joining Napoli last summer, Billy Gilmour has recently started to make an impression in Italy.
The midfielder is starting to make more of an impression after having a sluggish start to his Serie A career.
Scott McTominay, another Scottish international, and Gilmour have been crucial to Napoli’s title challenge.
There is little doubt that Scott McTominay is the player who has become the talk of Italy this season. After completing his transfer to Napoli last summer, the former Manchester United midfielder has been nothing short of a phenomenon in Serie A. Some have even gone so far as to claim that he has emerged as the division’s finest player.
With just three points separating the two clubs as of this writing, Antonio Conte’s team is still trailing league leaders Inter Milan thanks to his performances. In his new home, McTominay has undoubtedly gained popularity among the fans. But he’s not the only midfielder from Scotland that joined Diego Armando Maradona Stadium early in the season.
In reality, Billy Gilmour, a former Chelsea and Brighton great, also made the move in a far more subtle way that same day. When the 23-year-old made his debut at Chelsea, he was predicted to do well, and the move to Italy gave him a great chance to show off his skills on a different platform. And after seven months, the Italian media has expressed its opinions about the Scottish international’s performance thus far.
After a Slow Start, Italian Media Give Gilmour Praise
This season, the midfielder has been used more off the bench, but he is still getting used to his surroundings.
Gilmour had a far slower and more muted start to life in Naples than his countryman McTominay, who had an almost instantaneous effect. He also found himself receiving more regular minutes off the bench than from the outset. In actuality, he has only averaged 46.55 minutes per appearance in his 20 appearances thus far, 11 of which have been as a substitute.
The 23-year-old’s situation does seem to be improving, though, as his contribution to the club has gradually grown over the past several weeks. Two of the last four Serie A games that Gilmour has started have seen him play the entire ninety minutes. This includes the team’s most recent 2-1 victory over AC Milan, which effectively ended Joao Felix’s chances of succeeding after joining the Italian powerhouse on loan.
Romelu Lukaku’s goal was set up by Gilmour, who recorded his first assist of the season in that very game. The Italian media quickly praised the Scotsman for his recent progress after this performance and gave an explanation of why he had been given additional responsibilities in the previous weeks.
According to the Herald, Corriere dello Sport commented on his display, saying: “There are a number of reasons why Conte no longer removes him. The assist for Lukaku is one of these. He is a never-ending source of storylines, and his pace exhausts the crew. Regarding the midfield player, Tuttanapoli stated: “The timing of the ball is clear and flawless, which makes Lukaku happy.” He adds insight, dynamism, and a sense of place to each play he writes.
Gilmour simply needed time to adjust to his new environment, according to former Rangers and Fiorentina player Lorenzo Amoruso, who made the following statement, as reported by the Daily Record: “I think that the time it takes to integrate can be different depending on the player.” Perhaps the player took a little longer to comprehend the Italian championship, which differs greatly from the others and the British ones, because Antonio knew Billy.
“The Scotsman is having an excellent second part of the season and is proving to be an extraordinary player.”
Gilmour on Life in Naples
The midfielder has explained what settling into life in Italy was like
Few British athletes have moved overseas in recent years, but Gilmour talked to the Athletic about his experience adjusting to life in Italy.
The 23-year-old said, perhaps shockingly, “You can go out.” “You certainly attract attention, but it’s a good thing. All they want to do is congratulate you and encourage you to keep up the good work.
“It’s insane if you go out with Scott McTominay because they instantly identify him. The city, the way of life, and the culture are completely different.
“You encounter stuff that you wouldn’t in the United Kingdom. It’s enlightening.
