Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has accused the club’s hierarchy of breaking promises made over its transfer strategy, citing the sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli as a major source of frustration during his final months at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman said an agreement was reached at a meeting in Ibiza in 2024 that McTominay would not be sold, but the club eventually approved the midfielder’s departure to Italy.
Speaking in an interview with The Athletic, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag said: “In Ibiza, we agreed. I said, ‘No selling Scott McTominay’. We would go aligned in the transfer window.”
McTominay left United in the summer of 2024, with Manuel Ugarte arriving as his replacement. Ten Hag said the decision undermined his authority and went against his plans for the squad.
The former Ajax manager explained that he wanted to retain McTominay because of the midfielder’s goalscoring ability and mentality. The Scotland international scored 10 goals in all competitions during his final full season at Old Trafford, finishing behind only Rasmus Hojlund and Bruno Fernandes in United’s scoring charts.
Ten Hag said: “I make an argument, a reason: we don’t have scoring abilities. Scott brings scoring abilities and great mentality.
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“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 subsequently established himself as an important player for Napoli, where his performances helped the Italian club win the league title. His progress in Italy has renewed scrutiny of United’s decision to sanction his departure.
Ten Hag also alleged that his disagreements with the club’s leadership extended beyond transfer decisions to questions about his contract and the support he received from senior officials.
After United’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, the club triggered a one-year extension to his contract. However, Ten Hag said he wanted greater certainty about his future and clearer assurances that the club would support his work.
He said: “I wouldn’t go on with only one year left. So I said, ‘I need an extra year, and we have to do it together’.
“They promised me loyalty, they promised me backing, they promised communication, that we get aligned.
“We spoke about the issues. But the promises, they didn’t keep. That’s why I got disappointed.”
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