Stale Solbakken, the Norway national team manager who oversees Erling Haaland, has criticised Sir Jim Ratcliffe over the way Manchester United handled Michael Carrick's sacking.
United parted ways with Carrick nearly a full week after the dramatic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa. Despite the positivity of the fight back against Villa and the two-goal turnaround triumph against Roma in the Champions League, the international break was always destined to be the time for a change.
Solbakken's Criticism
As reports emerged that United were close to a deal with Mauricio Pochettino, Carrick was still turning up at Carrington to take training for the players who were not active in the international break. When asked about Carrick's situation, Solbakken suggested Ratcliffe had made another mistake.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Norway's Nations League clashes against Wales and Denmark, Solbakken, when asked about Carrick taking training amid the Pochettino rumours, said: "It says a bit about what kind of club man he [Carrick] is."
"How strongly he is connected to that club and what loyalty he has. If it is true, then it is probably not the first mistake Ratcliffe and co have made."
Ratcliffe's Decision
Ratcliffe made the decision after consulting with club CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox in Monaco. After their gathering on the Wednesday, Berrada broke the news to Carrick in a meeting at Carrington the following Thursday.
The day before, reports stating United were close to a deal with Pochettino had been reported. This suggests it's likely Carrick was aware of the reports as he was turning up to take training.
Gary Neville's Reaction
One key figure who has blasted the handling of Carrick's future is former United captain Gary Neville. He said: "In the last 24-48 hours it's been spectacularly bad."
"To be in Monaco as an executive and an owner whilst your manager, who's a club legend, is taking training on the pitch and simultaneously approaching the US Soccer Federation to approach Mauricio Pochettino."
"It's just quite simply disgusting. That falls well below the standard of what you would expect in any other business, in any other industry. It would be constructive dismissal and you'd be getting sued."
"The optics of being in Monaco whilst the team, the staff, the people who are running the club on a day-to-day basis are in Manchester, it's just not good and it reflects badly on the leadership. I don't think anybody comes out of this well at all."
Pochettino is yet to be announced as the new manager of United. He still has duties to fulfil as manager of the USA, as the Americans face Haiti in a two-legged CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final tie.
