"Never bring players from your old club" - Journalist rips into Erik ten Hag and Manchester United for their recent transfer business

Dutch journalist Hugo Borst has ripped into Erik ten Hag and Manchester United over their recent transfer business. The reporter claimed that the Red Devils boss is giving the appearance of "being ignorant and suspicious" by only signing players he knows very well.

This isn't the first time Erik ten Hag's transfer decisions have come under scrutiny. Since joining Manchester United two years ago, the Dutchman has mainly signed players he's worked with in the past and a few others he knew very well in his country.

Antony and Lisandro Martinez, who played under him at Ajax were lured to Old Trafford. Players like Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia, André Onana, and Wout Weghorst followed suit. The tactician also signed Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich this summer, forming what can be described as a team of familiar faces at Old Trafford.

These decisions didn't sit well with Borst and the Dutch journalist held nothing back in slamming the 54-year-old and Manchester United.

"Erik took a disastrous path two years ago with his know-us policy,” he said in quotes conveyed by Sport Witness. “Of course it started with Antony. The transfer fee was insanely high. You should never bring players from your old club. Or from the competition you know well. Why would you?

“Anthony. Why? Lisandro Martinez. It could have stayed at that. Ten Hag also had to bring in Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia. André Onana. Wout Weghorst. Untalented, idiots, doping sinners, madmen," he added.

Borst went on to criticize Erik Ten Hag's decision to add a Dutch trio of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rene Hake, and Jelle ten Rouwelaar to his coaching staff before lashing out at the signing of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui this summer.

“This summer three more Dutch people came. Ruud van Nistelrooy. (We get that.) René Hake and Jelle ten Rouwelaar. (How small is your world?)," he continued.

“When Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui also moved from Munich to Manchester United last week, I thought: who are next? Sean Klaiber and Zakaria Labyad? And why, as Weghorst’s successor, not bail out Quincy Promes? With his choices, Erik gives the appearance of being ignorant and suspicious. What a pity he is not a man of the world,” the journalist added.

It is worth noting that Manchester United kicked off the new Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday (August 16). They'll take on Brighton & Hove Albion away from home in their next fixture this Saturday (August 24).

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How Erik ten Hag has fared at Manchester United so far

Erik ten Hag joined Manchester United after parting ways with Ajax in the summer of 2022. Numbers-wise, he's overseen a total of 116 games in charge at Old Trafford, recording 69 victories, 15 draws, and 32 defeats to his name.

In his first season, the tactician helped the club finish in the third position in the Premier League with 75 points in 38 games. He also led them to claim the EFL Cup that season, beating Newcastle United 2-0 in the final at Wembley Stadium.

In his second campaign at Old Trafford last season, the Dutchman fell off in the league as his side finished in the eighth spot with 60 points. He, however, managed to finish the season on a good note by leading Manchester United to FA Cup glory, beating Manchester City 2-1 in the final.