Erik ten Hag reveals regret over the sale of key Man star

Scott McTominay’s summer departure, with the midfielder joining Napoli despite not wanting to leave.

McTominay moved to Serie A in a deal worth over £25 million and has started strongly in Italy. The 27-year-old has already scored his first league goal, and Antonio Conte’s team leads the Serie A standings after seven matches.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have struggled, sitting 14th in the Premier League. Ten Hag admitted he wanted to keep McTominay and believes the club was forced to sell him to comply with stringent financial rules regarding profit and sustainability.

‘I’m very happy for Scott,’ said the Dutchman. ‘As I said, when he left, I didn’t want this but that’s the rules the club had to deal with.

‘The rules are, I would even say, bad, but that’s the situation created. It forced us to make this decision.’

Ten Hag has not changed his tune from when McTominay left United, when he said: ‘It’s mixed [feelings] because I would have preferred not to lose him. He has Manchester United in his veins.

‘He was so important for our team, he was at Manchester United for over 22 years. But unfortunately, it’s the rules. You have to discuss the rules to do sales and obviously homegrown players, academy players, bring more value.

‘It’s not the right thing to do but for everyone, for all parts, it’s a good deal. For Scott, he is happy with it. Of course, for Napoli, a very good player but also for us.’

McTominay appears to be enjoying life in his new place, telling club media when he joined Napoli: ‘Happiness is the best thing in life, and that is the only thing I concentrate on: try to be happy, with my family, my friends, my girlfriend … when you have a smile on your face you play better at football as well.’

Scott McTominay, the Scotland international, scored the opening goal in Napoli’s recent 3-1 victory over Como. Former Napoli star Gianfranco Zola has expressed his disbelief that Manchester United allowed him to leave the club.

‘I’m very surprised,’ Zola said on Wednesday. ‘I could not believe that Manchester United released him, to be honest.

‘I don’t really know what’s the reason but obviously for Napoli it’s been a great deal.

‘I think everybody loves him so far, he’s scored goals, performed very well, he left me a little bit dazzled, to be honest, I didn’t expect that. Obviously it’s a big thing for Italian football, he’s doing very well.’