Peter Crouch advised the Glazers NOT to sign Jadon Sancho in 2021 - with the England international now set to leave Manchester United.
Sancho, 23, joined the Red Devils in a £73million deal in July 2021, having scored 38 goals and provided 51 assists in 104 Bundesliga games for Borussia Dortmund. Yet he's failed to replicate that form in England, with just nine Premier League goals to his name.
Sancho has also fallen out with Erik ten Hag. The United boss dropped the player in September for "his performances in training", but the row turned sour when Sancho rejected his manager's comments on social media. A January transfer is now expected.
Most United fans were excited by Sancho's arrival, but former Liverpool and Tottenham striker Crouch raised concerns. He believes several expensive signings have failed to live up to their billing at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.
"Sancho seems to be a done deal from Borussia Dortmund for £73m, but big-money transfers won’t change United fans' perception of the Glazer family," Crouch told Paddy Power. "The owners' problems are too deep-rooted to be solved just by spending a few quid.
"They cannot buy the fans' happiness. Look, it’s a positive step and I think United fans will love Sancho, but the damage has been done over the years and looks impossible to rebuild. They’ve spent loads of money on players before, but recruitment has been poor."
United have spent a fortune to sign the likes of Antony, Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Raphael Varane, Donny van de Beek, Harry Maguire, Fred, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Angel Di Maria and Andre Onana during the last decade.
Yet that hasn't result in sustained success on the pitch. United haven't won the Premier League since 2013 or the Champions League since 2008. They've only won one FA Cup, two League Cups, one Europa League and two Community Shields since Ferguson's exit.
As Crouch suggested, the Glazers' running of United has made them very unpopular among fans. INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club, with the British billionaire aiming to make United a force in European football again.
Ten Hag is hoping to improve United's fortunes, but Sancho isn't part of his plans. The former Dortmund star will now be evaluating his options, with the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle on red alert. A move to the Saudi Pro League is also a possibility.
There's still a glimmer of hope for Sancho at Old Trafford. As reported by The Guardian, he's been urged by his United team-mates to say sorry to Ten Hag. It's thought an apology is the only way the winger's gets back into the club's first-team squad.
Raditzz96115
0
You do realise united don't have that great of a academy. 😂Why start kids when they have noone to look up to in the squad? Who gonna set the example the kids from the youth? Clearly you don't want united getting anywhere.
Then maybe ManU shd work on building the academy Get in youth instead of older players have patience and build the team ManU is basically doing what bartomeu used to do at barca panic and splash money
Raditzz96115
0
I think u want them to go relegation
It’s not like they r doing so great now right ?
Brendanobi
0
😂😂😂😂bro pogba on the verge of being kicked out of juventes tf u talking bout
the same way we are telling Sancho to man up, and doesn't want
kingpnk
0
just like we are doing with pogba right now
😂😂😂😂bro pogba on the verge of being kicked out of juventes tf u talking bout
Jizablprsy
0
Sancho made Haaland at Dortmund. Why did Man Utd buy him if not to play him? Both Man Utd and Ten-Hag are collectively destroying this players career!
jaybdkos
0
100 percent never wanted him my club is so stupid
Bro has club n glazers don’t have 😀
Adeyemi83
0
He should get out nobody needs his apology, sell him and get a better replacement
God bless and Jo out your brother. Enough of crazy wages from this silly and lazy players
babagift1
2
He should get out nobody needs his apology, sell him and get a better replacement
nuycdlrty
0
100 percent never wanted him my club is so stupid
Ziubilstuy
1
there is always a saga at man utd. pogba saga, cr7 saga, mcguire sag, greenwood, Anthony and now sancho saga. this club is beyond sport.
Who in the world and in their right sense will say CR7 is not fit into the system? We are talking about one of the best players in the world. Of course, he is fit into any system. Do you know how many coaches with profile or without profile that has managed him? Sir Alex Ferguson. ETH can't achieve half of what that man achieved in football. Mourinho, Ancelotti, Allegri, Sarri, Zidane. And one man that doesn't have anything came and thinks Ronaldo doesn't fit into his system. What is ETH's pattern himself? What type of tactics are we using? Nobody understands. We win today and loose tomorrow. No consistency. Just call the player into the office and be a man enough to tell him, he's not in your plans. As simple as that. He should stop coming to media with lies.
Brendanobi
0
Man united will sell Sancho less money then they will regret when he plays great football for a different club
just like we are doing with pogba right now
gm11
0
I think what ManU need to do is start slow bring in more players from their academy and gradually build a team What they r trying to do now is exactly what bartomeu did after Neymar left panic and spend big money without proper consideration
You do realise united don't have that great of a academy. 😂Why start kids when they have noone to look up to in the squad? Who gonna set the example the kids from the youth? Clearly you don't want united getting anywhere.
gm11
0
I'm not surprised to see Sancho failing in united, it's not because he's a flop but it's because that has been the nature of Manchester united, to flop prayers, Dimaria, slatan, Sanchez, Pogba, Ronaldo, falcao, now Sancho among others came as hot players but they later considered unwanted
Besically you said he's not a flop but he is a flop 😂😂😂, Sancho is by far the most useless player at United, nd his signing has literally been as useless as sanchez. Di Maria didn't even play a full season and he left with better stats than Sancho 😭😭😂😂, zlatan flopped? He won 3 cups with Mourinho ah but that's flopping 😂 pretty sure he got top goal scorer too, pogba was a flop just as useless as sanchez and Sancho, Ronaldo didn't flop more like the team fell apart, then falcao was a panic buy.
gm11
0
Man united will sell Sancho less money then they will regret when he plays great football for a different club
Not really he failed in the prem, why cause he walks around, nd literally never gives his all, don't care what anyone says his stats and work rate are terrible. Who knows maybe going back to the farmers league might be good for him since you can afford to walk around and do nothing. Cause not like Bayern aren't winning the league AGAIN.
gm11
0
there is always a saga at man utd. pogba saga, cr7 saga, mcguire sag, greenwood, Anthony and now sancho saga. this club is beyond sport.
That's cause we have a team that is talked about more than any other club in the world. Anyone who comes to united should expect all this to come so there really should be no excuses. Pogba and Sancho saga is alright cause everyone knows the are both bad useless players, overrated at most, CR7 didn't fit the system and especially the squad he had, maybe if we had a good midfield and defence it could have worked out, greenwood boxed his gf around thats his fault really not the club, Antony is grand his situation hasn't effected anyone. Then Sancho is looking for attention and he should get it and leave the club he doesn't belong too.
gm11
0
Even if he apologized, ETH has made up his mind. Sancho will not get minutes on the pitch.
Rightly so
kabuyegodson
1
Man united will sell Sancho less money then they will regret when he plays great football for a different club
am thinking like u boss. we'll regret
albino403
0
glazers
lepekmop
2
Even if he apologized, ETH has made up his mind. Sancho will not get minutes on the pitch.
rehaekorty
2
there is always a saga at man utd. pogba saga, cr7 saga, mcguire sag, greenwood, Anthony and now sancho saga. this club is beyond sport.
Nazdilmpr
0
So which great football did he play when ETH wasn't yet his manager, yes he may be a talented player but like it or not he has not helped himself to shine at ManU no matter the couch! and if and if he shines at another club, that will only be bcz he has finally learnt to help himself and act professionally
Fact, that boy is lazy
fitabcimy
0
I'm not surprised to see Sancho failing in united, it's not because he's a flop but it's because that has been the nature of Manchester united, to flop prayers, Dimaria, slatan, Sanchez, Pogba, Ronaldo, falcao, now Sancho among others came as hot players but they later considered unwanted
And who said di maria Ronaldo zlatan were flop players at United. Guy check your stat
Losbcekmpz
0
I think what ManU need to do is start slow bring in more players from their academy and gradually build a team What they r trying to do now is exactly what bartomeu did after Neymar left panic and spend big money without proper consideration
I think u want them to go relegation
Jeremykyan1
0
Man united will sell Sancho less money then they will regret when he plays great football for a different club
no, the same issue will repeat itself
Jaeainprsz
3
Man united will sell Sancho less money then they will regret when he plays great football for a different club
So which great football did he play when ETH wasn't yet his manager, yes he may be a talented player but like it or not he has not helped himself to shine at ManU no matter the couch! and if and if he shines at another club, that will only be bcz he has finally learnt to help himself and act professionally
Losbcekmpz
1
He has made up his mind not to play for United again he doesn't want to waste his talent there and dont believe in the project that's why up to now he refuse to apologize
BenardKyeyune
4
Man united will sell Sancho less money then they will regret when he plays great football for a different club
albino403
1
Papceiklr
5
I'm not surprised to see Sancho failing in united, it's not because he's a flop but it's because that has been the nature of Manchester united, to flop prayers, Dimaria, slatan, Sanchez, Pogba, Ronaldo, falcao, now Sancho among others came as hot players but they later considered unwanted
AA2
2
okay
Raditzz96115
3
I think what ManU need to do is start slow bring in more players from their academy and gradually build a team What they r trying to do now is exactly what bartomeu did after Neymar left panic and spend big money without proper consideration