'I'm gutted' - Phil Jones 'devastated' by Manchester United transfer decision
The former Man Utd defender has given his verdict on one deadline day move.
Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones says he was devastated to see Scott McTominay sold on deadline day of the summer transfer window.
United reluctantly sanctioned the £25.7 million sale of McTominay to Italian side Napoli last week, feeling the offer was too good to turn down for a squad player who wanted to be playing regular football at this stage of his career.
Erik ten Hag openly admitted he would rather have kept the 27-year-old as well, but counter-intuitive financial rules incentivise the sale of academy products due to the fact the count as pure profit on the balance books.
McTominay was sorely missed as United's midfield was cut apart by Liverpool in the Premier League at the weekend, and recently retired defender Jones was sad to see him leave the club.
"I'm gutted he's gone," Jones told Football Daily. "I love him, he's a wonderful boy, a wonderful lad, he's brilliant in and around the dressing room. I think he's got so much more quality than people give him credit for. He's a lot technically better than what people give him credit for. He arrives in the box at certain times and scores important goals, as he showed last season for United and for Scotland.
"I understand why he's gone in terms of the FFP, which I think it's a bit of a travesty that we're still having to sell homegrown talent because of FFP. Maybe needs to be looked at in my opinion, but I'm devastated he's gone. He was an important part of the team. It's going to be a loss, it is a loss, but I am delighted for him.
"I texted him yesterday and just wished him good luck, and, you know, he's excited about it, starting his new challenge and he's going to a giant of a club as well in Napoli and Antonio Conte."