McTominay ´made my head spin´, says Sassuolo defender Muharemovic

Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic says Scott McTominay is the hardest player he has faced in Serie A as he “made my head spin”.

Muharemovic and Sassuolo faced Napoli on the opening day of the 2025-26 season, with McTominay scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 victory for the reigning champions.

The Scotland international has been a revelation in Serie A since moving to Napoli at the start of last season and was named as the league’s most valuable player.

After scoring 12 goals in the Italian top flight last term, he was also named in the Serie A Team of the Year and clinched the Footballer of the Year award, too.

This term, McTominay has netted just two goals so far, but he has also registered two assists, while among midfielders, he has had the second-most shots (32, behind Nico Paz).

And Muharemovic was impressed by the 29-year-old, naming him as the toughest opponent he has played against.

“He’s not a striker, and I faced him on Matchday one. He really made my head spin. I’m talking about Napoli’s McTominay,” Muharemovic, who is playing his first season in Serie A, said.

“He was popping up all over the pitch; he was truly everywhere. One moment, he was wide; the next one, he scored a header right inside the box, beating me to it.

“Then there are Lautaro [Martinez] and [Marcus] Thuram [of Inter], but I haven’t faced them yet.”

McTominay will be hoping to help Napoli win the Supercoppa Italiana on Monday, with Antonio Conte’s side facing Bologna in the final.