Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United star and prominent soccer pundit, recently took to Twitter to address the ongoing controversy surrounding Jadon Sancho and Erik ten Hag.
In a video shared on social media, Ferdinand delved into the matter, shedding light on his perspective. He began by highlighting a key point: Sancho wouldn’t have felt compelled to respond to comments made by Erik ten Hag if he believed he had given his all in training.
Ferdinand elaborated, emphasizing that while Sancho might have felt satisfied with his efforts, they might not have met the standards set by the current club manager.
Concluding his video commentary, the Manchester United legend made a significant assertion regarding the potential outcomes for the English winger. He stated, “There is only one window open, and that’s Saudi, or you are on the bench or not getting in the squad for the rest of the season.”
Is there a way back for Sancho after tonight’s statement?https://t.co/admQIWh9De#MUFC https://t.co/jENiP9wh9R pic.twitter.com/T6CevAgf7N
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) September 4, 2023
Ferdinand underscored the possibility that this fallout could result in Sancho departing from the club. With only Saudi Arabia’s transfer window remaining open until September 7, this could be his sole destination, or worse, he might find himself relegated to the bench or excluded from the squad and starting lineup for Manchester United throughout the season.
Jadon Sancho’s challenges have been evident since his high-profile move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United in 2021, commanding a substantial transfer fee of $92 million. With an impressive track record of 50 goals and 64 assists in 134 matches for the German side, expectations were high regarding his impact on both flanks for United.
However, his tenure at Manchester United has witnessed him struggling to justify his hefty price tag, amassing only 12 goals and six assists in 82 games. This issue appears to transcend managerial changes, as similar difficulties persisted under the previous manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
Gareth Southgate has spoken about the problem of Jadon Sancho
In a recent report by Chris Wheeler, a soccer writer for the Daily Mail, revelations about England’s current national team manager, Gareth Southgate, and his concerns regarding Jadon Sancho have come to light.
According to the report, Southgate and his coaching staff have engaged in discussions regarding a recurring issue with Sancho—his tendency to display sulky behavior when not included in the starting lineup. This behavior has been observed to have a negative impact on the team’s overall atmosphere during training camps.
This issue first gained prominence during Euro 2020, when Sancho reportedly reacted with petulance when left out of the squad for the opening group game against Croatia. His exclusion from the starting lineup persisted throughout the tournament, as Southgate believed that Sancho’s training efforts did not meet the required standards, echoing concerns raised recently by Erik ten Hag.
🎙️ Gareth Southgate and his coaching staff have spoken about the problem of Jadon Sancho sulking when he is not selected in the starting line-up and the negative impact it can have on the atmosphere in camp.
(Source: @ChrisWheelerDM ) pic.twitter.com/c5Lc0U3slI
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) September 5, 2023
This pattern of behavior is not entirely new. During his youth days, Sancho, along with former City teammate Phil Foden, faced disciplinary consequences when they arrived late for a team meeting, resulting in their exclusion from the England Under 19s side against Latvia.
This behavioral issue also manifested during Sancho’s tenure at Borussia Dortmund. His manager at the time, Lucien Favre, took disciplinary action on multiple occasions, even dropping him from critical matches against Barcelona and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The accumulating evidence presented in the report paints a concerning picture of Sancho’s conduct with different managers, both at the club and international levels, throughout his career. The upcoming days will undoubtedly be of interest, as Manchester United navigates yet another situation involving an English forward, following the Mason Greenwood incident.