Erik ten Hag has voiced his disappointment regarding the summer sale of Scott McTominay, who transferred to Napoli against his wishes.
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The midfielder joined the Serie A side for just over £25 million and has quickly made an impact, scoring his first league goal and helping Napoli secure a top position in the league after seven matches.
Meanwhile, Manchester United has struggled in the Premier League, sitting 14th in the table as they head into the weekend.
Ten Hag has consistently maintained that he wanted McTominay to remain at Old Trafford. He expressed his sentiments clearly, stating, “I’m very happy for Scott. As I said, when he left, I didn’t want this but that’s the rules the club had to deal with.”
He elaborated on the financial pressures the club faces, labeling them as “bad” and emphasizing that these circumstances compelled the decision to sell McTominay.
In previous comments, Ten Hag had shared mixed feelings about McTominay’s departure, highlighting the midfielder’s deep ties to the club. “It’s mixed [feelings] because I would have preferred not to lose him. He has Manchester United in his veins,” he noted.
With over 22 years at the club, McTominay’s departure was particularly tough for Ten Hag, who recognized his importance to the team and lamented the club’s necessity to sell players, especially homegrown talent, to meet profit and sustainability requirements.
Scott McTominay, for his part, appears to be thriving in Naples. Upon joining Napoli, he shared his philosophy about happiness:
“Happiness is the best thing in life, and that is the only thing I concentrate on: try to be happy, with my family, my friends, my girlfriend… when you have a smile on your face you play better at football as well.”
His positive attitude seems to have translated into on-field success, as evidenced by his recent goal in a 3-1 victory over Como.
Former Napoli star Gianfranco Zola expressed surprise at Manchester United’s decision to release McTominay, questioning the rationale behind it. He acknowledged the midfielder’s contributions and popularity among fans, stating,
“I could not believe that Manchester United released him, to be honest”
