'Arrivederci' - Manchester United confirm deadline day sale as Erik ten Hag left with 'mixed feelings'
Man Utd have confirmed the exit of a first-team player on deadline day of the summer transfer window.
Manchester United have confirmed the permanent sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli on deadline day of the summer transfer window.
Napoli will pay an initial fixed fee of £25.7 million for the midfielder, while United will retain a 10 per-cent sell-on clause on any future sale.
Erik ten Hag was reluctant to let the 27-year-old go so late in the window, but accepted the deal was too good to turn down for a squad player who wants to be playing regular football at this stage in his career.
In a farewell message to the academy graduate, United said: "McTominay will be missed by everyone at the club and leaves with our best wishes as he embarks on a new chapter of his career in Italy.
The switch to Serie A giants Napoli sees him him link up again with former United team-mate Romelu Lukaku, who has finalised a transfer from Chelsea, and play under Antonio Conte. Good luck, Scott, arrivederci and thank you for the fabulous memories."
Earlier in the day, Ten Hag bemoaned the counter-intuitive PSR rules which incentivise clubs to sell academy graduates due to the fact they count as pure profit on the balance sheets.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the Liverpool match, Ten Hag said: "It is a little bit mixed, I am very happy for him but it is mixed because I wouldn’t prefer to lose him. “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 parties, it’s a good deal.
“For Scott, he is happy with it. Of course, for Napoli. (They are getting) a very good player. But also for us (it’s a good deal too).”