Erik ten Hag might have made a big mistake after the departure of one “wonderful” former Manchester United star from Old Trafford in the summer transfer window.
That is according to former Manchester United defender Phil Jones, who believes that one ex-Red Devils star deserved a lot more “credit” from people.
Erik ten Hag oversaw a major revamp to his United first-team squad under Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos regime.
Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee both arrived at Old Trafford in July, while Ten Hag was reunited with former Ajax duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui in August.
United also completed their fifth major summer signing on deadline day with Manuel Ugarte being snapped up from Paris Saint-Germain for an initial fee of £42.1m.
Alongside the arrival of several new signings at Old Trafford, United boss Ten Hag saw a massive clearout of players from his first-team squad.
Jones on ex-Man Utd star’s exit
Manchester United engineered the sales of different players this summer, including Mason Greenwood to Marseille and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham.
Phil Jones has now admitted that he was sad to see Scott McTominay make his exit from Old Trafford after praising his ‘technical’ abilities as a player.
Scott McTominay would have been out of contract with United in 2025 and former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag was a big fan of the Scottish midfielder.
The 27-year-old, who came through the United youth academy, had been battling for regular first-team minutes and was sold to Napoli in the summer window.
Speaking to BBC Radio (via The Scotsman), Jones said: “I’m gutted. I love him. He’s a wonderful boy. He’s so good in and around the dressing room.
“I think he’s got so much more quality than people give him credit for. He’s a lot better technically than what people give him credit for.
“He arrives in the box at certain times and scores certain goals, as he showed last season for United and Scotland.”
Jones talks McTominay and Napoli
Scott McTominay was in impressive goalscoring form for club and country last season after he netted 10 times for the Red Devils across all competitions.
The Scotland international had attracted interest from Fulham in the summer and United had rejected the Premier League club’s £20m offer for McTominay.
McTominay left Old Trafford on deadline day after Napoli agreed a £25.7m transfer fee, with the midfielder linking up with Scotland teammate Billy Gilmour at the club.
Jones admitted that he is “excited” for the Napoli midfielder and said that McTominay’s departure from United is a “huge loss for the team.”
“I understand why he’s gone, in terms of the FFP (financial fair play rules), which I think is a bit of a travesty that we’re still having to sell homegrown talent because of FFP,” he added.
“Maybe it needs to be looked at. I’m devastated he’s gone. He was an important part of the team.
“It’s going to be a loss – it is a huge loss for the team. But I’m delighted for him. I texted him yesterday and wished him good luck.
“He’s excited about starting his new challenge. He’s going to a giant of a club in Napoli with Antonio Conte.”
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