Matic said Manchester United should not sell McTominay! Ten Hag: It is indeed wrong, I wanted to keep him

November 20 News: Manchester United’s decision to sell Scott McTominay continues to raise questions. After former teammate Nemanja Matic spoke out, former coach Erik ten Hag also admitted that Manchester United should not have approved his 30 million euro transfer to Naples.

This deal reached in 2024 is mainly due to Manchester United's pressure on PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) rather than competitive considerations. The Scottish midfielder has undergone a transformation under Antonio Conte, flourishing in a more advanced position and becoming one of the brightest players in Serie A. The return of 17 goals in 50 games, a Serie A championship and the league's best player award further confirms the view that Manchester United underestimated his value.

Matic, who worked with McTominay for five seasons at Old Trafford, made no secret of his disappointment. The Serbian publicly stated on social media that Manchester United "made a mistake" in selling McTominay, and praised Conte for his discernment.

Ten Hahe later admitted that he agreed with this view. Shortly after Matic spoke out, the Dutch coach explained that financial regulations forced United's decision. According to the Premier League PSR rules, the sale of youth training players can be counted as "100% net profit", which prompts clubs to prioritize the sale of local players.

"It was not the right decision, " Ten Hag said, adding that given McTominay's deep connection with the club, "I would have been reluctant to let McTominay go. He has Red Devils DNA in his blood... but the rules force us to make these types of decisions. "