Ten Hag says United broke promises over McTominay sale after FA Cup U-turn
Ten Hag accuses United hierarchy of breaking Ibiza promises
Erik ten Hag has kept his counsel on Manchester United for two years since his sacking in October 2024, but the affection he built up for the club while winning two trophies still shines through when he speaks.
"I enjoyed every minute in Manchester United; I have such wonderful memories," says the former United manager. "It feels like I'm connected; I'm a fan. It's an amazing fanbase; they were always respectful to me."
In the first of a two-part interview with The Athletic, published on 20 October 2026, Ten Hag unpacks his two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, including an unsuccessful push to bring in Harry Kane and his clashes with Cristiano Ronaldo.
FA Cup reprieve then broken promises
Ten Hag had looked set to lose his job on the eve of the 2024 FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley, as United's conversations with prospective successors such as Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi had become public. A 2-1 victory against Pep Guardiola's champions prompted a U-turn from the hierarchy.
Two weeks later the clause in his contract for an additional year was triggered after crunch talks during his holiday in Ibiza.
"I wouldn't go on with only one year left," says Ten Hag. "So I said, 'I need an extra year and we have to do it together'. They promised me loyalty, they promised me backing, they promised communication, that we get aligned. We spoke about the issues. But the promises, they didn't keep."
One of those promises, according to Ten Hag, was keeping Scott McTominay, who had scored 10 goals that campaign but left United for Napoli later that summer for €30.5million as the club raised funds to buy Manuel Ugarte.
"That's why I got disappointed," Ten Hag adds. "In Ibiza, we agreed. I said, 'No selling Scott McTominay'. We would go aligned in the transfer window. I make an argument, a reason: we don't have scoring abilities. Scott brings scoring abilities and great mentality. He has United in all his veins. So when they bring up the subject, 'No'. And in the end they sold him. I got, of course, very embarrassed and disappointed."
Transfer targets and dressing-room tension
Part one gives fresh insight into subjects including the broken "promises" that led to his sacking, why he had to act on Cristiano Ronaldo, a player who "let the team down", and his desire to sign Harry Kane and Declan Rice, and pursuits of Brian Brobbey and Danny Welbeck.
The interview also covers the "toxic culture" and what it was like managing players such as Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Raphael Varane.
Ten Hag did get Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, two former Ajax players, but they had only two months together. United were 14th in the Premier League on 11 points from nine games when Ten Hag was dismissed on 28 October 2024, the day after his side lost 2-1 to West Ham United.
"I think it was quite weird to separate ways in that moment," he says, pointing out United were still in all the cup competitions. "All the data was showing we are good. OK, two poor games to Liverpool and Spurs (both 3-0 home defeats). We were starting the process. Let it progress; the gameplay is getting better."
Carrick advice and takeover disruption
Ten Hag says he still felt he had the dressing room onside. "Maybe they can say differently, but I see on the pitch, and every game they fought. Also, my last game, that was probably one of our best games, we should have won against West Ham. But I'm sure the process was already ongoing; there were already people - maybe even in the team - who knew what would happen the day after."
Three days before his sacking, Ten Hag detected something was amiss following United's 1-1 draw at Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce in the Europa League - a competition he was convinced his team could win. United, led by Ruben Amorim, ended up losing the final that season 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao.
On the current situation, Ten Hag says of Michael Carrick: "It is not the solution to dismiss him. 100 per cent not. Fans will demand this if results don't improve - it is coming out from the stomach, from the emotion. You have to make rational decisions. He showed good coaching abilities at Middlesbrough and last season. So let him do his process. I think he has a good staff."
Ten Hag also discusses how the takeover process brought noise and disruption. "The takeover process brought a lot of noise, uncertainty with the people, and disruptions," says Ten Hag. "So that was for the manager, for the coach, it was difficult to work, that's clear. It was very complicated."
Part two on Wednesday will address Ten Hag's offer to help United's data department, bringing through Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, and why Sevilla was the turning point in his reign.