Former Man Utd player & coach slam McTominay to Napoli sale: ‘They made a mistake’

Manchester United’s decision to cash in on Scott McTominay continues to draw criticism, with both Nemanja Matic and former head coach Erik ten Hag insisting the club should never have sanctioned his €30m switch to Napoli.

United accepted Napoli’s offer in 2024, a deal driven primarily by PSR pressures rather than footballing logic.

The midfielder has since transformed under Antonio Conte, thriving in a more advanced role and becoming one of Serie A’s standout performers. His return, 17 goals in 50 games, a Scudetto, and the league’s Player of the Year award, has only strengthened the view that United misread his value.

Matic, who shared five seasons with McTominay at Old Trafford, did not hide his frustration at the time. The Serbian declared on X that United had “made a mistake” selling him, praising Conte for recognising the Scotsman’s qualities.

Ten Hag later admitted he agreed. Speaking shortly after Matic’s claim, the Dutchman explained that financial regulations forced United’s hand. Selling an academy graduate counts as “100 per cent profit” under Premier League PSR rules, giving clubs a strong incentive to offload homegrown players.

“It’s not the right thing to do,” Ten Hag said, adding that he would “have preferred not to lose him” given McTominay’s long-term association with the club. “He has Manchester United in his veins… but the rules make these decisions necessary.”