Erik ten Hag has accused Manchester United bosses of breaking promises they made to him and says the sale of Scott McTominay left him "embarrassed".
The former United manager has launched a damning attack on Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team in his first major interview since being dismissed by the club in October 2024. Ten Hag was fired months after signing a contract extension with United.
The Dutchman captured the FA Cup in May 2024 to complement his Carabao Cup from the previous season, but remained on precarious ground. United held discussions with Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi that summer before reversing course to activate a clause in Ten Hag's contract to prolong his tenure, as per The Mirror.
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It proved to be a fleeting decision, with Ratcliffe and the United executives making the call to fire the former Ajax boss following a disappointing defeat by West Ham United. Two years on from his termination, Ten Hag has spoken candidly about what transpired in an interview with The Athletic.
"I wouldn't go on with only one year left," he said. "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."
One of the commitments Ten Hag claims were made was to retain midfielder Scott McTominay, who had netted 10 goals in the 2023/2024 season. However, United ultimately offloaded the academy product to Napoli for £25 million ($33 million), and the Scotland international has gone on to flourish in Italy.
"That's why I got disappointed," Ten Hag said. "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."
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McTominay has registered 27 goals and 10 assists in 85 appearances for Napoli and guided the club to the Serie A title in his debut campaign. His departure has been widely regarded as a significant error by United, who utilized the funds to bring in Manuel Ugarte for £50 million ($55.3 million) from Paris Saint-Germain.
McTominay's exit wasn't the only transfer that left Ten Hag dissatisfied with those above him at Old Trafford. The former Ajax manager says he pushed hard for the acquisitions of Frenkie de Jong, Declan Rice and Harry Kane.
Speaking about De Jong, he said: "Everyone's thinking the manager is doing the negotiations, that I'm involved in financial issues, but I was never.
"Of course, I did my best; I set up meetings with him, where it was (former chief executive) Richard [Arnold] and (ex-football director) John [Murtough] involved as well, to pursue him to come over. He could have been very important building the team, not only that year but for the future. But we didn't make it."