Erik ten Hag on McTominay doing great at Napoli: “I didn't want him to leave but it is the rules”.

 Erik ten Hag on McTominay doing great at Napoli: “I didn't want him to leave but it is the rules”.

Erik ten Hag is sharing his true feelings about Scott McTominay's departure to Napoli, and it's clear he's not happy about it. Ten Hag said, "I didn't want him to leave, but it is the rules" . He's referring to the Financial Fair Play rules that forced Manchester United to sell McTominay, despite wanting to keep him.

Ten Hag thinks these rules are "not great" and even goes as far as saying they're "bad" . The reason is that they incentivize clubs to sell homegrown players, like McTominay, to balance their finances. McTominay joined Napoli for €30.5 million, and his departure has allowed Manchester United to strengthen their squad with the acquisition of Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain.

It's a tough pill to swallow for Ten Hag, who values McTominay's contributions to the team. The Scottish midfielder has already made a significant impact at Napoli, scoring one goal in four appearances. Ten Hag's frustration stems from the fact that Financial Fair Play rules prioritize financial compliance over maintaining a competitive squad.

The rules limit Premier League clubs to losses of £105 million across a three-year assessment period . This has led to a quiet summer transfer window, with clubs being cautious about their spending. Ten Hag's comments highlight the need for a review of these rules, which can have unintended consequences on team dynamics and performance.