Expectations were high when Jadon Sancho arrived at Manchester United in the summer of 2021. The English winger was one of Europe’s most in-demand attackers following a stellar spell at Borussia Dortmund.
A £73 million fee was paid to Dortmund to bring Sancho to Old Trafford. He seemed the ideal acquisition to take up the left wing role in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
Sancho faltered, unable to replicate his incredible exploits at Signal Iduna Park. Behind-the-scenes issues, including a public fallout with Erik ten Hag, led to his exile.
The 25-year-old is currently on loan at Aston Villa, having spent last season on loan with Chelsea. He has seemed to at least please Unai Emery during his time at Villa Park.
Back to Germany for Sancho
Sancho’s contract with United expires this summer, and that’s a relief, as it brings an end to one of the club’s worst signings. He might be handed a chance to revive his career at Dortmund.
According to TEAMtalk, the Bundesliga club are ready to make an offer to bring Sancho back to Germany this summer. The Reds and the player have accepted that he will not play for the club again.
United ruled out triggering a one-year option to extend his contract, and he will become a free agent in June. His entourage has been working on his future beyond this season, and they are “seriously considering” a move to Dortmund.
Sancho starred during his first spell with the Germans, bagging 50 goals and 58 assists in 137 games. He returned in the second half of the 2023-24 campaign and helped Edin Terzic’s side reach the Champions League final.
Villa are still in the equation and are prepared to hold talks with the English winger’s representatives at the end of the season. He also has interest from Italy, with Napoli, AC Milan and Atalanta also keeping tabs.
Sancho is United’s worst-ever signing
When factoring in the price, the expectations and the contribution, it’s hard not to assess Sancho as the worst signing the club have ever made. His poor tally of just 12 goals and six assists in 83 games leaves much to be admired.
Sancho was meant to set the world alight at the Theatre of Dreams, and instead, he sparked a hailstorm with his behaviour off the pitch. Calling Ten Hag “a liar” and claiming he’d been scapegoated was a remarkable choice.
The Dutch coach had been looking to build his confidence by handing him a trip to the Netherlands for individual training months earlier. He should have returned with the bit between his teeth, and instead fell back to his old ways of lackadaisical performances.
Fans might point to the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund as the club’s worst signings. At least those three tried to prove their worth, albeit disappointingly, unlike Sancho, who didn’t even seem to care about playing for United.
