Gilmour on Napoli’s ‘turning point’, speaking to Ferguson and ‘cultural shock’

epa12000041 Napoli’s midfielder Billy Gilmour in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs AC Milan at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 30 March 2025. EPA-EFE/CIRO FUSCO

Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour believes the turning point in the Partenopei’s campaign was an away win at Atalanta and reveals other Scottish players in Serie A, including Lewis Ferguson, have helped him settle in.

The Scotland international released an interview with Lega Serie A on the eve of a league match against Lecce at the Stadio Via del Mare.

Gilmour joined the Partenopei on a permanent deal from Brighton last summer.

“My favourite thing in Naples definitely has to be the weather. From the UK, you don’t see much sun, but the weather is really nice here,” he said.

Gilmour reveals biggest cultural shock at Napoli

“I think the language is the biggest cultural shock. I am able to speak and understand more. I got told not to listen to songs if I am going to learn Italian properly. I’ve just heard a couple of songs in the dressing room and got told they are Neapolitan.

“My expectation coming here was to try something new,” he continued.

“The Premier League is excellent, but the opportunity came up, so I decided to come here and experience something new. I think until you actually play it, you don’t understand how hard the league is and how tactical you need to be.

“The ultimate goal for players is to win as many trophies as possible, and I think that playing in Naples, I have a possibilità to do that.”

Gilmour joined Napoli alongside Scott McTominay who moved to the Stadio Maradona from Manchester United.

“Having Scott in the team is really helpful, I’ve known him from playing in Scotland and against him. It’s helpful to have a friendly face and somebody you can speak to,” Gilmour admitted.

“There are, of course, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams and Liam Henderson in the league. I speak to Lewis quite a bit. I know he’s been here for a good couple of years, and he’s enjoying it, and he can only say positive things about the league.”

Gilmour has reunited with Antonio Conte, who coached Chelsea when the midfielder was playing in the Blues’ youth sector.

Gilmour opens up about Conte

“I had Conte when I was younger. I trained only a couple of times with him. But now that I work with him every day, he’s very intense, the standards are always high, and he pushes you to the max,” Gilmour said.

“For us as a team, we know it’s good for us and we try to give our best this season.”

Napoli are the Serie A table leaders with a three-point lead over second-placed Inter and just four games remaining. What was the turning point in 2024-25?

“Maybe against Atalanta away,” Gilmour argued.

“They were up a goal and we ended up coming back and fighting and I think it shows how good the spirit is in this team. We always fight until the end and so far this season, we’re doing really well, and we just keep going game by game and see how it goes.”

Napoli fans now dream of winning their second Serie A title in the last three years.

“The fans are crazy, they give 100% support, and for a player, it only makes you want to go and do the best you can for the team and the fans,” Gilmour concluded.