How Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man Utd return spelled disaster for Sancho from stealing his shirt to trying to get him benched
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S return to Manchester United spelled disaster for Jadon Sancho.
The English winger’s future at Old Trafford is currently in doubt just over two years after he joined the club.
Sancho was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia before their transfer window closed and was dropped completely for United’s last match.
Erik ten Hag later claimed Sancho’s absence from the squad was due to his efforts in training.
However, the former Borussia Dortmund star hit back on social media, arguing he was a “scapegoat”.
According to The Athletic, though, Sancho’s time at United has been doomed since Ronaldo re-signed for the Red Devils.
It is understood that Sancho had been promised the number seven shirt during United’s initial attempts to sign him in 2020.
When he eventually joined a year later, however, Edinson Cavani had the shirt, before passing it on to Ronaldo when he returned later that summer.
Sancho was instead left with the number 25 and would struggle before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking in November 2021.
His return to form under interim manager Ralf Rangnick would again be stunted by Ronaldo.
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The report adds that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner held private talks with Rangnick to request a change of shape.
His proposal to change from a 4-3-3 formation to playing two up top would directly impact Sancho’s opportunities, having been used on both sides of the attacking three.
Fortunately for Sancho, Rangnick argued against the change, fearing it would affect the Englishman’s form after he had scored two in three games from right wing.
The 23-year-old has continued to struggle, though, falling out of favour with Gareth Southgate, who has not called him up for England since October 2021.
Although he improved to six goals and three assists in the league last season, he has yet to start a match this term.
Sancho has instead made just three appearances of the bench, with the longest being a 30-minute cameo against Nottingham Forest.
His Twitter outburst following Ten Hag’s comments has since been deleted, though.
Peace talks between the pair were also scheduled for Monday as United looked to resolve Sancho’s future.
The former Manchester City prospect still has just under three years left on his contract with the Red Devils along with an option of another year.
United return to action at home to Brighton on Saturday, but it remains unknown if Sancho will feature.
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