Fabrizio Romano appears to be on the same wavelength as Rio Ferdinand after admitting that he “really” rates one of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United players.
Erik ten Hag has seen a shake-up to his first-team squad at Old Trafford this summer with the arrival of new signings and the departure of several players.
The 54-year-old Manchester United boss’ new signings have included Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and French defender Leny Yoro from Lille.
Ten Hag has also been reunited with two more former Ajax players after United completed a double swoop for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
The Dutchman is set to see another new arrival at Old Trafford after Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte is on the verge of signing for United.
Amid the new signings, United have also offloaded players like Mason Greenwood, Hannibal Mejbri, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Donny van de Beek this summer.
Romano agrees with Ferdinand on Man Utd star
Fabrizio Romano and Rio Ferdinand have both felt the same way about Scott McTominay ahead of the Manchester United star’s exit from Old Trafford.
Scott McTominay is out of contract next summer and the United midfielder has been heavily tipped to leave the Red Devils.
The 27-year-old Scotland international was subject to fierce interest from Fulham and United even rejected a £20m bid from the Premier League club.
McTominay is now on the verge of signing for Serie A side Napoli after United agreed a deal worth in the region of £25m.
Erik ten Hag is a big fan of the Scottish midfielder and McTominay has featured regularly under the former Ajax boss at Old Trafford.
Romano has now waxed lyrical about the Napoli-bound player and feels that McTominay is “probably underrated” and an “important player” for United.
“The player wanted to play regularly, Napoli can offer that,” he said, as per CaughtOffside.
“But I agree with Rio when he says that Scott is probably underrated, important player and I really rate him.
“It’s a fantastic signing for Napoli; but for United, it was the only way to get the green light on the Ugarte deal.”
What did Ferdinand say about McTominay?
United legend Ferdinand was unconvinced by the need for his former club to sell McTominay this summer and said it won’t be “cheap” to replace the Scotland star.
“I look at Scott McTominay, and not every player can be a star standout player or a franchise player,” he said on his YouTube channel.
“I always say this, to win the league, you need the likes of a John O’Shea, a Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher, Chicharito, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from when we were at United.
“Or you need the likes of [Julian] Alvarez when he was at [Manchester] City, who can come in. Like last season, Jeremy Doku was coming in and impacting games even though not necessarily always starting all the games.
“Those players are huge. You need those players and they understand the DNA, especially the ones who come through the academy. Man United have always stood by that.
“It really doesn’t sit well with me. To replace him, you are going to have to spend, £30m, £40m, £50m and it’s not going to be cheap to replace him.
“It’s a gamble, you don’t what you’re going to get with that next player, whereas with him you know what you’re getting.
“It’s on the tin, he turns up when he’s playing, might not always be an eight or nine out of 10, but he is a good seven and every now and then he will be an eight and get you a goal.”
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