Manchester United broke their alleged promise to Jadon Sancho to build a team around him - with the winger now attempting to revive his career with Borussia Dortmund.
The Englishman is currently in the middle of a six-month loan stint with his former club. It is the latest chapter in what has been a difficult few years for Sancho.
His move back to Dortmund comes after a very public falling out with Red Devils' boss Erik ten Hag after he failed to hit the heights expected of him at Old Trafford following a £73million move in July 2021.
Man United had long been suitors of the wideman before they signed him and reportedly made some lofty promises to tempt him to the club. According to The Athletic, the Red Devils promised Sancho they'd build a team around him, while then-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keen to fulfil this promise.
Solskjaer said: "Yes, I wanted to sign him. Manchester United will never sign a player the manager doesn't want. That's not the case everywhere. Jadon was put up as the No.1 target for the right-wing by the scouts and when you look at his talent, I could see why."
However, it never quite worked out for Sancho. Of his 82 appearances for the Red Devils, only 56 have been starts. Attempting to explain why Sancho has not met expectations, Solskjaer added: "Unfortunately, it has not worked out. When he arrived, he had to go to hospital and that was a setback as he couldn’t start the first games.
"He's immensely talented and we haven't seen the best of him. I hope we do, but he prefers to play left wing… where Marcus (Rashford) plays."
Since then, his public spat with Ten Hag has seen Sancho fall out of contention entirely at Old Trafford, with the Dutchman making it clear he wasn't going to build his team around the winger. Sancho was subsequently exiled for the majority of the first half of the campaign, leading to his loan move to Dortmund.
Speaking at the time, Ten Hag suggested that Sancho has been a problematic figure practically since his arrival. He said: “He's now at Dortmund. So after he was signed, one year before [I was here], and there were issues.
“We have had issues all the way through, and so you can make out his stay at Manchester United so far is not a success. So now he is going back to Borussia Dortmund, so I wish him the best of luck. I hope, we all hope he is doing well there, he will be successful. Again, we will see what is going to happen.”
Sancho’s return to Dortmund has been bright. He has started two out of the three matches he has been available for and already has two assists to his name - a mark of how much trust he has earned at the Signal Iduna Park, something that he has not been afforded at Man United.
For the time being, Sancho will be aiming to continue his revival and potentially earn a permanent move back to Germany. Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl revealed that they were keen to slot an option to buy the winger into the deal.
“Unfortunately for both players, neither option was realistic. If you know what we got for Jadon Sancho two-and-a-half years ago, then you know also that it might not be very, very difficult,” he revealed. “We naturally advocated for an option on him – and also with Ian [Maatsen] – but the negotiating position was not such that we could implement it and so we will accept it for now.”
huwbenopsz
1
A team is of twelve player how do you build it on one man
Mosico
2
he was playing as right winger for which he was bought because there was a serious need in that area now he comes only to tell the manager that he prefer the left wing where someone is already performing. This guy is his own problem mixed with indisciplin
Gudiest
5
Sancho influence rashford and others bad behavior
Kril5150
1
hell what building a team around Sancho????
Vebacmosu
0
sanco or Sancho failed to prove even £35m valuation at old Trafford, why should Manchester United keep such promise if truly we made such to arrogant and floppy one?
ole really need him ...unfortunately for him cr7 came suddenly and team focuz shifted towards him
cuzdeiklru
0
sanco or Sancho failed to prove even £35m valuation at old Trafford, why should Manchester United keep such promise if truly we made such to arrogant and floppy one?
Seainruz
1
do you see why I regard Ronaldo as the best it doesn't matter where he plays he goon the field a gives his all Ronaldo on the left,right middle up front he does the job these players want to be in particular position I must be the star of the team you must earn your place not making demands smh a true footballer play any where and gives💯
cuzdeiklru
0
useless talk. building team around a costly and arrogant floppy player could be madness. he even need not to return to old Trafford again
Bruce2019
1
you can't build a team around a lazy and careless player like sancho
cizceikruy
0
they also promised to build a team around Trashford, Weghost, Fred and a lot more 🤣 before
j1collins
1
NOTE!!! NEVER TRUST THE DEVIL.... HE HAS NO FAVORITE SON
Toyemnpstu
1
Player has to play excellent to be called a franchise player and have a teem been built around him . Unfortunately for everyone Jadon didn’t
rupbcelntz
1
Sancho had ample opportunities to prove himself regardless of which wing he played on! Sancho was a flop he struggled at City and he struggled at United. It's a no brainer Sancho just can't handle the Premier league. End off
Alopenu
0
They should also know that you can't build a team around am underperforming player. Bruno was the best option for that regard and not some lazy English dudes. The right wing they signed him to play, rather, he later opted for left wing where was filled with Rashford and others. Buh during his first spell at Dortmund right wing was his best preferred position where he did great. Though can't compare the league.
Garnacho was doing great on the left wing and he's still doing perfect on the right when moved there. He's not complaining buh some lazy ass like Sancho will be complaining and will underperform when giving chance.
Alopenu
1
They should also know that you can't build a team around am underperforming player. Bruno was the best option for that regard and not some lazy English dudes. The right wing they signed him to play, rather, he later opted for left wing where was filled with Rashford and others. Buh during his first spell at Dortmund right wing was his best preferred position where he did great. Though can't compare the league.
Tipcdertuy
0
Sancho flopped at united I don't blame any one it just failed to work out for him at old Trafford but he z agud player but he doesn't like man u en wen he z playing he plays for him self look how Garnacho tries u have to fight from r de club drop bac help de team to regain possession be hard but Sancho aaaaaah lazy player can't help united those kind of players no no no u rather remain with Daniel james
Puhcknrsuz
3
How do you build a whole team like United on a struggling player. That promise was also supposed to go along with some responsibility on the player's part in terms of performance both on and off the be pitch.
Kkrexuke
4
What do you expect when you change manager ? promise will be broken , a diff manager will build a team based on a difference player or different style. Same as changing gf. 😉