Erik ten Hag told Man Utd player he didn't want him before blocking transfer

A Manchester United player who was made surplus to requirements by Erik ten Hag was later blocked from leaving the club.

Ten Hag was sacked as United manager in October 2024, months after winning the FA Cup and securing European football.

The Dutchman faced question marks over his style of play and United's defensive struggles towards the end of his reign, while his relationship with players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane were also highlighted.

Varane, who retired from professional football last year, told The Athletic in February 2025 that he was 'surprised' that Ten Hag was offered a new contract by minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the FA Cup triumph, adding that 'the connection with the group no longer existed'.

Another player who the former Ajax boss didn't always get along well with was right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, whose future was decided upon not long after Ten Hag walked through the doors to Carrington.

Wan-Bissaka was a big-money arrival under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, joining United from Crystal Palace for an initial £45 million fee in 2019.

Wan-Bissaka won the FA Cup during his final season at Manchester United (Image: Getty)

The 28-year-old is very much in the mould of a traditional full-back, with his star attributes being his tackling and all-round defensive ability rather than his effectiveness going forward.

He played just five minutes during the opening weeks of Ten Hag's reign up until October 2022, when he suffered from various injury problems.

But upon his return following the World Cup, Wan-Bissaka won back his place in the side and was thereafter one of United's most consistent performers.

Ten Hag praised his mentality in February 2023, telling United's official website: "He had a difficult first part of the season, but he fought himself back, and that's a credit to him."

Now, speaking to the Daily Mail, Wan-Bissaka has revealed that he was personally told by Ten Hag that he was not in his plans before the beginning of that season - but was blocked from leaving.

"It was difficult when Erik ten Hag arrived - as soon as he did, he told me I wasn't in his plans," the DR Congo international recalled.

"But when I tried to leave, he said he didn't want me to go. I couldn't understand it.

Ten Hag and Wan-Bissaka had a mixed relationship at Manchester United (Image: Getty)

"That was tough mentally, because it left me wondering what I was supposed to do next. I just kept my head down and told myself to keep training, keep improving, and play my game.

"Staying motivated was hard though, especially when you're training without the clear goal of playing. But the people around me guided me in the right way, and encouraged me to keep going.

"Eventually things turned around and started to improve. You could say I changed or developed tactically under him, because that was something he wanted."

Wan-Bissaka stayed at United for another season, but the 2023/24 campaign was again stop-start in terms of injuries - though he did have an extended run in the side between March and May.

In August 2024, the right-back signed a long-term contract with West Ham, who paid around £15 million to sign him.

He is now locked in a relegation battle with the Hammers, who are currently in 18th place in the Premier League table and two points from safety with 11 matches to play.