Erik ten Hag accused of ‘talking rubbish’ as Manchester United star leaves on deadline day

Erik ten Hag accused of ‘talking rubbish’ as Manchester United star leaves on deadline day

Erik ten Hag has been accused of ‘talking rubbish’ after a Manchester United star completed a deadline-day move away from Old Trafford.

United were preparing to unveil new signing Manuel Ugarte on transfer deadline day and explored a shock, late move for Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling.

The Red Devils have also been busy trimming Ten Hag’s squad, sanctioning moves for several starlets and selling first-team midfielder Scott McTominay to Napoli.

McTominay signed for the Serie A side for £25.7m, leaving a club he first joined at the age of five in the process.

The Scotland international made 255 appearances for his boyhood club but was expected to find his game-time reduced following the arrival of PSG star Ugarte.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, Ten Hag claimed he was reluctant to lose McTominay, insisting he was ‘so important for our team’.

‘I’m very happy for him,’ Ten Hag said. ‘It’s also [a good deal] for us, but it is mixed because I wouldn’t prefer to lose him because he’s Manchester United in everything.

‘He was so important for our team, for Manchester United, but unfortunately it’s the rules.

‘We have to discuss the rules, when you have to sell and obviously homegrown and academy players bring more value, that’s not the right thing to do.

‘But I think for everyone, for all parts it’s a good deal. For Scott, he’s happy with it, for Napoli a very good player, but also for us.’