MARCUS RASHFORD, Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood.
It was the triumvirate that was going to fire Manchester United back to the Treble years.
A young, exciting, quick forward line with the potential to strike fear into teams at home and abroad — boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was convinced of it.
With an average age of just over 21, the three were not only ready for the challenges of being a Red Devil now but would grow and reach their peaks together.
That was the dream at the start of the 2021-22 season as Solskjaer finally landed Sancho for £73million from Borussia Dortmund after nearly two years of negotiations.
At the time, Ole said: “Jadon is a signing that we expect to stay at Man United for many, many years, so it’s also that part of it that we have a young, up-and-coming forward line.”
Fast forward and now one won’t play for United, one can’t and a third can’t remember how to.
How on earth did one of the world’s biggest clubs get into such a position? Well, the first thing that derailed it all was the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, just a few weeks after Sancho arrived.
At first it was to much fanfare as he scored twice in the 4-1 win over Newcastle on an incredible afternoon at Old Trafford back in September 2021.
Then it quickly became apparent CR7 was the square piece Solskjaer had to fit into a round hole and the whole jigsaw began to fall apart.
As the Norwegian admitted recently: “The right thing to do was to sign Cristiano but it would have been better for him and for us if he hadn’t signed.”
What his arrival did was curtail the progression of the three youngsters, all of whom were switched around to accommodate the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The trio, rather than be inspired by the United legend, ended up retreating into their shells when it soon became clear it was all about him. Then, in January 2022, came that bombshell social media posting making serious allegations against Greenwood.
The forward was immediately suspended by United.
He was subsequently charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
In February last year, all charges were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Services after key witnesses withdrew.
The club then conducted their own investigation and were ready to bring Greenwood, who was still just 21-years-old, back into Erik ten Hag’s squad.
But the public backlash when the news leaked was so huge that United were forced into a hasty U-turn.
There is no way back for Greenwood at Old Trafford.
He joined LaLiga side Getafe on a season-long loan in September and has won rave reviews with ten goals and six assists in all competitions.
United hope his form in Spain will have clubs knocking on their door as they prepare to cash in. But potential suitors know the Red Devils’ predicament and will not pay anything near what the 22-year-old is actually worth.
There are so many sad things about this sorry tale, including the fact Greenwood really could have gone on to be as good as Wayne Rooney.
Next up, Sancho, a player who arrived with stats of 50 goals and 64 assists from 137 games for Dortmund.
He could never replicate that form for United and his questionable attitude — which has effectively put paid to his England career — soon led to problems at Old Trafford.
It was last September when manager Ten Hag dropped him for the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal, publicly citing poor performances in training in the run up to the match.
No problem with that, it was probably the kick up the backside Sancho needed. But as Solskjaer recently said, there are too many “snowflakes” in football nowadays. With some, like 24-year-old Sancho, listening to questionable advice.
After being dropped for the Gunners clash, the forward took to X to effectively call Ten Hag a liar.
He then refused to apologise and is now back at Dortmund on loan.
They paid United £3m to take Sancho, with the Red Devils possibly banking another £3.4m if the Germans win the Champions League final at Wembley on June 1.
Ten Hag says the club have spoken to Sancho and watched him in action with a view to him returning.
It won’t happen.
As for Rashford... the man who could do no wrong, seemingly can’t do anything right.
Rashford’s partying has seen him hauled into ETH’s office twice now.
The pair barely speak and after 30 goals last season, the 26-year-old barely scores any more — and now gets booed by his own fans.
If only everyone could go back to the future and start again.
