Man United Sold Mctominay To Napoli Against My Wishes — Ten Haag
Retold by Oddsrama · 21 October 2026
Erik ten Hag has opened up about one of the most frustrating moments of his Manchester United tenure: the summer 2024 sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli. The Dutch manager insists he explicitly told the club's decision-makers that McTominay was off-limits, only to see the Scottish midfielder depart for £25.2 million anyway. Ten Hag revealed that he and United's hierarchy had agreed during a meeting in Ibiza that McTominay would stay, citing the midfielder's goal-scoring threat and invaluable mentality as reasons to keep him. When the sale went through regardless, Ten Hag admitted feeling "embarrassed and disappointed" — a rare public admission of frustration with the board's transfer strategy.
The irony has become painfully clear since McTominay's departure. At Napoli, the 29-year-old has flourished, becoming one of Serie A's standout performers. He's notched 27 goals and 10 assists in 85 matches across all competitions and played a crucial role in Napoli's 2024-25 Serie A title triumph. Meanwhile, United signed Manuel Ugarte from PSG as a replacement, but the Uruguay midfielder has hardly filled the void McTominay left. For bettors tracking United's squad evolution, McTominay's absence has coincided with the club's inconsistent midfield contributions — something that affects their attacking potency and tournament odds.
Now comes the twist: INEOS, United's co-owners, want McTominay back. Sky Sports Switzerland reported in October that the Old Trafford hierarchy is keen to re-sign him from Serie A, with both United and Aston Villa having enquired about his availability in summer 2026. McTominay's agent has reportedly held preliminary talks with multiple Premier League clubs, and the player himself is said to be nostalgic for English football. If a reunion happens, it would be a stunning reversal — and a vindication of Ten Hag's judgment. For now, McTominay remains a Napoli asset, but this saga has legs yet.
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