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Erik ten Hag remains frustrated that Manchester United sold Scott Mctominay over the summer, with the midfielder moving to Napoli against his will.
The midfielder moved to Serie A in a move worth just over £25m and has made a great start to life in Italy.
The 27-year-old has already scored his first league goal for the club and Antonio Conte’s side sit top of the Serie A table after seven matches.
In contrast, Manchester United have had a nightmare start to the Premeir League season and go into this weekend 14th in the table.
Ten Hag admits that he wanted McTominay to stay with the Red Devils over the summer and feels the club were forced into the sale to meet ‘bad’ profit and sustainability requirements.
‘I’m very happy for Scott,’ said the Dutchman. ‘As I said, when he left, I didn’t want this but that’s the rules the club had to deal with.
‘The rules are, I would even say, bad, but that’s the situation created. It forced us to make this decision.’
Ten Hag has not changed his tune from when McTominay left the club, when he said: ‘It’s mixed [feelings] because I would have preferred not to lose him. He has Manchester United in his veins.
‘He was so important for our team, he was at Manchester United for over 22 years. But unfortunately, it’s the rules. You have to discuss the rules to do sales and obviously homegrown players, academy players, bring more value. It’s not the right thing to do but for everyone, for all parts, it’s a good deal. For Scott, he is happy with it. Of course, for Napoli, a very good player but also for us.’
McTominay appears to be enjoying life in his new surroundings, telling club media when he joined Napoli: ‘Happiness is the best thing in life, and that is the only thing I concentrate on: try to be happy, with my family, my friends, my girlfriend … when you have a smile on your face you play better at football as well.’
The Scotland international opened the scoring in a 3-1 win over Como in Napoli’s last outing and Gianfranco Zola, a former star with the club, cannot believe Manchester United let him go.
‘I’m very surprised,’ Zola said on Wednesday. ‘I could not believe that Manchester United released him, to be honest.
‘I don’t really know what’s the reason but obviously for Napoli it’s been a great deal.
‘I think everybody loves him so far, he’s scored goals, performed very well, he left me a little bit dazzled, to be honest, I didn’t expect that. Obviously it’s a big thing for Italian football, he’s doing very well.’
Premier League legend Alan Shearer feels McTominay making the move to Italy was clearly a smart move for him.
‘It was a wise decision for Scott McTominay to move countries and experience something different, not only on a football pitch but in life as well,’ Shearer told Betfair.
‘I wonder what McTominay thinks, looking back at what Man United are doing this season – or rather what they are not doing in terms of performances on the pitch.
‘Scott will look at himself and think he’s made the right decision because it looks as if the move to Napoli is going well for him.
‘He’s already scored a couple of goals, he’s developing a good relationship with Romelu Lukaku, and it looks like he’s enjoying it so from his point of view, he’s clearly made the right decision to leave Manchester United.’
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