Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has expressed strong criticism toward Erik ten Hag, who was recently dismissed from his managerial role at the club.
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Neville pointed out that, despite Ten Hag securing two trophies and a memorable FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, his transfer decisions — specifically signing Antony and Casemiro — have left a lasting negative mark on his tenure.
After finishing the previous season with United at a historical low in the Premier League, Ten Hag’s struggles were compounded by disappointing Europa League standings.
His successor could be Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, with talks reportedly underway.
Although Ten Hag’s win against Manchester City in the FA Cup will be remembered, Neville noted that Ten Hag’s recruitment choices, especially the expensive acquisitions of Antony for over £80 million and Casemiro from Real Madrid for £70 million, stand out as two of the worst transfers the club has made.
Both players have been inconsistent, with Antony failing to secure a regular starting spot and Casemiro struggling to adapt after his successful stint with Real Madrid.
According to Neville, Ten Hag’s decisions reflected poor upper management, with costly signings made out of urgency following early losses to Brighton and Brentford.
Neville remains skeptical about these choices, although he acknowledges that United’s struggles aren’t solely Ten Hag’s doing, pointing to larger issues with the club’s recruitment process over the past decade.
Following Ten Hag’s departure, interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy expressed his “mixed emotions,” acknowledging the unique honor of stepping in to lead Manchester United, even temporarily.
He praised Ten Hag for his dedication and shared his hope of turning United’s season around with the squad’s full potential in mind.