Erik ten Hag has been accused of ‘talking rubbish’ after a Manchester United star completed a deadline-day move away from Old Trafford.
United were preparing to unveil new signing Manuel Ugarte on transfer deadline day and explored a shock, late move for Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling.
The Red Devils have also been busy trimming Ten Hag’s squad, sanctioning moves for several starlets and selling first-team midfielder Scott McTominay to Napoli.
McTominay signed for the Serie A side for £25.7m, leaving a club he first joined at the age of five in the process.
The Scotland international made 255 appearances for his boyhood club but was expected to find his game-time reduced following the arrival of PSG star Ugarte.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, Ten Hag claimed he was reluctant to lose McTominay, insisting he was ‘so important for our team’.
‘I’m very happy for him,’ Ten Hag said. ‘It’s also [a good deal] for us, but it is mixed because I wouldn’t prefer to lose him because he’s Manchester United in everything.
‘He was so important for our team, for Manchester United, but unfortunately it’s the rules.
‘We have to discuss the rules, when you have to sell and obviously homegrown and academy players bring more value, that’s not the right thing to do.
‘But I think for everyone, for all parts it’s a good deal. For Scott, he’s happy with it, for Napoli a very good player, but also for us.’
But ex-Premier League midfielder Michael Brown believes Ten Hag was ‘talking a load of rubbish’ and has criticised the Dutchman’s handling of McTominay.
‘I think Erik ten Hag was talking a load of rubbish when he said he was disappointed at Scott McTominay’s departure,’ he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘McTominay has given everything to Manchester United and whenever there has been a chance to leave him out, Ten Hag has.
‘He keeps getting treated like the homegrown player rather than the player he is. The manager has not treated him right.
‘I get certain other players have to play at times – but McTominay has not been treated right.’
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand previously criticised his former club’s decision to sell McTominay.
‘I look at Scott McTominay and not every player can be a star, a standout player,’ he said.
‘But to win the league you need the likes of John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher… you need a Julian Alvarez at Man City.
‘They might not start every game but they were huge, you need those players and most of them know the DNA of the club, especially ones who have come through the academy, there’s a lot to be said for that.
‘It really doesn’t sit well with me. To replace him you’re going to have to spend £30m or £40m and give him £150,000 a week probably.
‘It’s not going to be cheap and it’s a gamble, you don’t know what you’re going to get, whereas with McTominay you know what you’re getting.
‘He might not always be a 9/10 but invariably he’s a solid 7/10 and sometimes he will be an 8/10 and get you a goal.’
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