Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still ‘upset’ Man Utd decided to sell player he called a ‘monster of a human being’

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that he was ‘upset’ that the club sold a player he described as a ‘monster’ during his time as Red Devils boss.

Solskjær, 52, was United’s head coach between 2018 and 2021, having previously been a much-loved forward at the club from 1996 to 2017.

The Norwegian initially took charge of the team as a caretaker manager in December 2018 before he penned a permanent deal in March 2019 after he oversaw a run of 14 wins in 19 matches.

And he may look back on his time at United as one of misfortune. A match that will no doubt stick in the 52-year-old’s mind is the 2020/21 Europa League final, which United lost 11-10 on penalties against Villarreal.

Solskjaer, who is now head coach of Turkish outfit Besiktas, signed several high-profile players such as Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Bruno Fernandes during his tenure at the club.

But there was a player who exited the club, which left the former forward ‘upset’.

When asked if he still gets the chance to watch United games during an interview with The Athletic, Solskjaer replied: “When I can. It’s still good to see Bruno Fernandes and Harry (Maguire) doing well. And Scotty [Scott McTominay] is doing well at Napoli.

“I’m upset that we let him go because he was important last season when he kept popping up with goals. His heart and his knowledge of the culture were important.”

Scott McTominay plays for Napoli (Credit:Getty)

McTominay, 28, left United for Napoli in the summer of 2024 and has registered six goals and two assists for Antonio Conte’s side, who are vying for a second Serie A crown in three years.

The Norwegian has been vocal about his admiration for the midfielder.

“We know he can be a box-to-box midfielder,” he told BBC Match of the Day in 2021.

“He should have scored a few more on set-plays before now because he is a monster of a human being. I am very happy he got the goal.”

And Solskjaer is not the only former United boss who has spoken glowingly about the Scotland international.

“So I look to Raphael Varane [at Real Madrid] now at the end of his career, he is my kid,” Jose Mourinho said when speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel last year.

“When I look to Scott McTominay, [Paul] Pogba on the bench, play Scott McTominay in Champions League against Sevilla, he is my boy.”