Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has lifted the lid on one of the most contentious transfer decisions of 2024 — the sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli — insisting the club broke a promise they had made to him directly.

Speaking to The Athletic, ten Hag described a meeting in Ibiza where he and club leadership agreed that McTominay would not be sold. "In Ibiza, we agreed. I said, 'No selling Scott McTominay,'" the Dutchman recalled. "He has [Manchester] United in all his veins. So, when they bring up the subject: 'No'. And in the end they sold him."

Ten Hag did not hide his frustration. "I got, of course, very embarrassed and disappointed," he admitted. The Dutchman was dismissed by Manchester United in October 2024, just months after McTominay's £25 million departure — with add-ons included — to Napoli, with Manuel Ugarte arriving as his replacement.

McTominay's stunning form at Napoli

The decision to sell has since looked increasingly difficult to justify. McTominay went on to help Napoli lift the Serie A title and claimed the league's Player of the Season award — all while amassing 37 goal contributions in just 85 appearances.

For context, McTominay recorded the same number of goal contributions — 37 — across 255 games during his entire spell as a Manchester United player. The improvement in his output has been stark.

INEOS eye a return to Old Trafford

With Manchester United sitting 13th in the Premier League and struggling for form under Michael Carrick, the club's co-owners INEOS are reportedly weighing a move to bring McTominay back to Old Trafford. Sky Sports Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri reported that the Scottish midfielder's representatives have already held preliminary discussions with several Premier League clubs regarding his next move.

Tavolieri's report also noted that Aston Villa made an approach for McTominay in April, and that the player himself is described as "nostalgic… and open to the idea of returning to the Premier League."

Manchester United return to UEFA Champions League action on Wednesday, travelling to Italy to face Como, as pressure continues to mount on the club's hierarchy.