Scott McTominay, a midfielder for Manchester United, has disclosed that he has gained 15 kg of weight, which he credits to a lot of hard work in the gym. The 6′ 3″ Premier League star revealed that it was difficult to make the switch from 70 kg to 85 kg of muscle.

“If people knew how hard players work in the gym and the level of intensity that’s required to push yourself to hit those goals, I think people would have their eyes opened,” says McTominay.

The 27-year-old football player said, “My body has changed over the past seven years,” in an interview with FourFourTwo. I was 6ft 3in and 70kg when I was 17 or 18; now, I weigh 85kg. I had to put forth a lot of effort to gain muscle.

In the past, McTominay has posted updates about his workouts on Instagram. He even asked colleague midfielder and former teammate Paul Pogba to divulge his muscle-building tips. McTominay claims that Pogba promised him he would gain muscle when he turned 23. McTominay claims, “It didn’t happen, and I remember thinking, ‘Where is it then?!’”

McTominay has obviously increased his lifting efforts since then, and his body has changed dramatically over time.

Shifting tin, as we all know, is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to making gains; in order to reap the rewards of our labor, we also need proper fuel and recovery. McTominay isn’t one to cut corners.

I’m lucky that I’ve always loved going to the gym. I’m competitive there and I like to see small advances. The same is true for sleep and nutrition: I consider myself to be disciplined.

The Manchester United player has been working hard off the field, and in the New Year, that effort will undoubtedly pay out on the field.