“Sold for £0m, and now he’s scoring more goals than Fernandes and even has a higher market value than Cunha. Honestly, we regret letting him go,” Man United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe admits, expressing frustration over ONE Manchester United player Erik ten Hag sold out of personal issues.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a stunning admission that has reopened old wounds at Old Trafford — and reignited furious debate among supporters.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a stunning admission that has reopened old wounds at Old Trafford — and reignited furious debate among supporters. Speaking candidly about past recruitment decisions, Ratcliffe acknowledged that the club made a costly mistake by allowing one player to leave for £0 million, only for him to explode elsewhere and now outperform some of United’s biggest stars.
“Sold for nothing, and now he’s scoring more goals than Bruno Fernandes and even has a higher market value than Cunha. Honestly, we regret letting him go,” Ratcliffe reportedly admitted.
The revelation has sent shockwaves through the United fanbase, especially given that the decision to sell the player was not purely football-related — but rooted in personal issues with former manager Erik ten Hag.
A Free Exit That Turned Into a Nightmare
At the time of the player’s departure, the move barely made headlines. He left quietly, without a fee, without fanfare, and without much resistance from the club hierarchy. The official narrative suggested the player was surplus to requirements — a name easily erased as United pushed forward with a “new project.”
But fast-forward to the present day, and the reality is painfully different.
- He is scoring consistently in a top European league
- He has outscored Bruno Fernandes this season
- His market value now exceeds Matheus Cunha’s
- He has become a key player for his new club
- And he left Manchester United for free
For a club trying to rebuild credibility in the transfer market, this has become a symbol of everything that went wrong.
Personal Issues, Not Performance
What makes this situation even more controversial is Ratcliffe’s admission that the player’s exit was not based on form or ability, but rather on personal friction with Erik ten Hag.
Sources close to the situation claim the relationship between player and manager deteriorated rapidly, with disagreements over:
- Playing role and tactical usage
- Training methods
- Communication and trust
- Public criticism behind closed doors
Rather than resolving the issue or protecting a valuable asset, United chose the quickest solution — letting the player walk away.
In hindsight, that decision now looks disastrous.
Outperforming United’s Own Stars
The most painful detail for fans is the comparison.
While Bruno Fernandes remains United’s captain and creative engine, the former Red Devil is now outscoring him, delivering goals with ruthless efficiency — something United have desperately lacked.
Even more alarming is the financial aspect. The player’s current market value now sits above Matheus Cunha’s, meaning United could realistically have cashed in for a significant fee — had they handled the situation differently.
Instead, they received nothing.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Honest Frustration
Unlike previous owners, Ratcliffe has made it clear he wants transparency — and accountability.
His admission wasn’t defensive. It was frustrated.
“This is one we got wrong,” one insider paraphrased.
“You don’t lose players like that for free and then watch them flourish elsewhere.”
The statement reflects a broader recognition within INEOS that ego-driven decisions and internal conflicts have cost Manchester United dearly over the years.
Fans React: “We Warned Them”
United supporters were quick to respond, and the reactions were brutal:
- “Sold for free because of a manager’s ego.”
- “This club keeps repeating the same mistakes.”
- “Now we’re chasing players like him for £70m.”
- “Ten Hag cost us more than we’ll ever know.”
For many fans, Ratcliffe’s admission only confirms what they suspected — that poor man-management has been just as damaging as poor recruitment.
A Lesson for the New Era
This episode now stands as a warning sign for the new Manchester United structure.
If United are to move forward, they must ensure that:
- Personal conflicts don’t override football logic
- Valuable assets are protected, not discarded
- Managers are challenged, not blindly backed
- Long-term value is prioritized over short-term convenience
Because in modern football, letting a player go for free — only to watch him outperform your captain — is not just a mistake.
It’s a failure of leadership.
One Final Truth Hurts the Most
The most painful part of Ratcliffe’s admission?
That the damage is irreversible.
The player is gone.
The goals are being scored elsewhere.
The value has skyrocketed.
And Manchester United are left with nothing but regret — and another reminder of how far the club must still go to reclaim its former standards.
