Jadon Sancho may never play for Man Utd again after being pursued for four years
Jadon Sancho has caused controversy by going against Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag
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When Manchester United signed Jadon Sancho back in the summer transfer window of 2021, everybody at Old Trafford was thrilled.
It had been a deal four years in the making, with Jose Mourinho first eyeing a deal for the forward all the way back in 2017.
On that occasion, Sancho was strutting his stuff for Manchester City. Aware of how difficult it would be to break into their first team, however, he then explored a departure from the Etihad Stadium.
Mourinho felt Sancho was a youngster he could nurture into a superstar but the Portuguese would end up missing out, with the attacker moving to Germany with Borussia Dortmund instead.
Man Utd spent four years chasing Jadon Sancho before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck gold in 2021
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After Mourinho's departure in December 2018, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer then came in.
And the Norwegian immediately made Sancho a priority target the following year. With no Champions League football to offer, however, United would again fail to strike gold.
In 2020, the Red Devils did indeed return to European football's top-tier club competition.
Solskjaer guided United into the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Leicester on the final day of the season, with Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard on target.
Yet on that occasion, the costs of a deal were ultimately too high for the club. With Dortmund wanting £108million, United refused to dance to their tune.
In 2021, however, they finally got their man.
Sancho was the club's big arrival that summer - until Cristiano Ronaldo returned from Juventus after 12 years away.
In the time since, the 23-year-old has struggled. It would be no understatement to say the England international is now a shadow of the player he once was.
And his time at United has stooped to a new low after he was left out of their squad for their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Erik ten Hag, speaking after that defeat, said he'd left Sancho out because of his poor performances in training.
"Jadon, on his performances in training we did not select him," stated the Dutchman.
"You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United and we can make choices in the front line. So for this game he was not selected."
Yet Sancho then proceeded to release a statement insisting he was being made a 'scapegoat' by his manager.
"Please don't believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is (sic) completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week," he retorted.
"I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won't go into, l've been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair!
"All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team.
"I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and (am) grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge.
"I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!"
The problem for Sancho is, however, that Ten Hag rules the roost at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman is bold and brave, jettisoning two club legends in David de Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo during his time in the dugout.
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Erik ten Hag is unlikely to tolerate Jadon Sancho's outburst with Man Utd boss fully in control
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Going against Ten Hag in public seems to be a risky move. There will only be one winner - and it won't be the United forward.
The Red Devils manager has a ruthless side akin to Sir Alex Ferguson.
And while he doesn't have the trophies in the bank like the Scot, he's got enough credit that means he's the undisputed man in charge.
As a result, it's hard to see a way back for Sancho. That bombshell statement may be the final nail in the coffin when it comes to his United career.