Gary Neville says Erik ten Hag made ‘two of the worst signings in Manchester United’s history’

Gary Neville has accused former Old Trafford manager Erik ten Hag of making ‘two of the worst signings in Manchester United’s history’.

United are in talks with Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim after finally sacking Ten Hag earlier in the week.

The Manchester United board showed admirable if not misguided patience in Ten Hag despite the team slumping to their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season.

Ten Hag was even handed a contract extension after the surprising FA Cup final win over Manchester City but was dismissed less than four months later with United 14th in the Premier League and 21st out of 36 teams in the Europa League.

Despite Manchester United’s largely poor form under Ten Hag, Neville believes he will at least partly be remembered for lifting two trophies and giving the fans a ‘special’ win over Man City at Wembley.

But Neville also says Ten Hag will be remembered for ‘overseeing two of the worst transfers Manchester United have ever made’ in Antony and Casemiro.

United spent more than £80m to sign Antony from Ajax in the summer of 2022 but the Brazilian, yet to start a Premier League game this season, now finds himself on the periphery at Old Trafford.

Casemiro arrived in the same window following nine years at Real Madrid where he won an impressive five Champions League trophies and three La Liga titles.

But the £70m signing has also struggled in the Premier League and was urged to leave Manchester United by a host of pundits over the summer.

‘[Erik ten Hag’s] legacy will definitely be winning those two trophies but particularly the Manchester derby in the FA Cup final,’ Neville said on The Overlap US.

‘That was a special day for every Man United fan that won’t be forgotten. It was a really, really great day and that won’t go away.

‘I remember how bad it was when David Moyes got sacked and the problem is over the past ten years we’ve had another group of managers, including Erik ten Hag, who have not done much better.

‘I just hope in five year’s time we aren’t looking back and still thinking that. It’s all about the club getting it [the next appointment] right.

‘The performances have been really poor this season, the results have been shocking, the league position is terrible. So he can’t complain.

‘His legacy is definitely winning two trophies in two seasons through a very difficult point.

‘The recruitment to be fair has been appalling for ten years and he’s been a victim of that himself.

‘I think he oversaw two of the worst transfers Manchester United will ever have made in the signings of Casemiro and Antony.

‘They were signed for £140-150m in a panic after the Brentford and Brighton losses. I hope I’m wrong, I hope Casemiro can do a great job for the club for four or five years and I hope Antony comes good.

‘But those signings are why United have had to go back into the market and sign [Manuel] Ugarte and other players.

‘That was the ultimate in poor management from those above Erik ten Hag. That should have been one big fat no when those two players became available for those prices and those salaries.’

Ten Hag is yet to speak out following his sacking but his assistant, Ruud van Nistelrooy, admits he has been left with ‘mixed emotions’.

‘As I am sure everyone can imagine, I am writing these notes with a huge amount of mixed emotions,’ he said as he prepares to take charge of Manchester United’s Carabao Cup clash against Leicester City on Wednesday night.

‘Erik ten Hag brought me back to Manchester United in the summer and, while I have only been part of the coaching staff here for a few months, I will always be grateful to him for giving me the opportunity, and I am saddened to see him leave.

‘Even on an interim basis, it is a great honour to manage the club I love for however long I am asked to do so. I can promise that I will continue to give my all, in whatever capacity, to try to turn around our fortunes.

‘Despite our results, I am loving being back at Old Trafford and working with the team and staff every day.

‘We’ve seen the squad’s potential at times this season, but clearly not often enough. Now is the time for everyone at the club to work together, give everything and turn this season around while we have time.

‘From my experiences as both a player and a coach here, I can say for sure that when players, staff and supporters pull together, Manchester United can be unstoppable.’

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