Erik ten Hag has criticised Manchester United's board, claiming the club failed to keep promises made to him before his dismissal as manager. One such promise, he says, was that Scott McTominay would not be sold in the 2024 summer transfer window.
Ten Hag wanted the academy graduate to remain at Old Trafford, but McTominay was eventually sold to Napoli, with Manuel Ugarte arriving as his replacement. Since the move, McTominay has become one of Serie A's standout players, winning the league title with his new club.
Ten Hag's 'embarrassment' over McTominay exit
Reflecting on the Scotland international's departure two years ago, Ten Hag admitted to The Athletic that he was "very embarrassed" by how the transfer unfolded. He recounted a meeting in Ibiza where he made his position clear.
"In Ibiza, we agreed. I said, 'No selling Scott McTominay'. We would go aligned in the transfer window. I make an argument, a reason: we don't have scoring abilities. Scott brings scoring abilities and great mentality. He has United in all his veins. So when they bring up the subject, 'No'. And in the end they sold him. I got, of course, very embarrassed and disappointed."
McTominay's success at Napoli
McTominay has since flourished in Italy, helping Napoli secure the Serie A title. His performances have highlighted the impact of his departure on United's squad, which Ten Hag had argued would lack scoring ability without him.
The comments add to ongoing scrutiny of United's transfer decisions under the current ownership, with Ten Hag's remarks underscoring a disconnect between managerial wishes and board actions.
