Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he does not know whether Jadon Sancho will play for the club again amid the winger’s exile from the first-team over a disciplinary issue. Sancho, 23, is training away from the squad ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match at Brighton after saying in a now-deleted statement on social media that he had been made a “scapegoat” following his omission from the squad for the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal on Sept. 3.
The Red Devils have yet to make any public comment on the matter, and according to sources, a showdown meeting between Sancho and Ten Hag will take place in the next couple of days. The pair are understood to be at odds over the winger’s handling by the club.
Despite his lightning speed, Sancho has struggled for regular minutes at United since his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2021. The youngster was sent on a unique training retreat last winter to try to help him cope with his early struggles, but he has still not found the form that once made him one of England’s most exciting prospects.
On top of that, he was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia before the transfer window closed, and his future appears to be up in the air at Old Trafford. The exiled winger, who has been forced to train alone for the moment, has not played in the league since Oct. 22 and will be forced to spend the rest of the season on loan at Bundesliga side Nottingham Forest, managed by his former England Under-17 coach Steve Cooper.
Sources close to the situation claim that Ten Hag believes that Sancho needs to be more disciplined by the club and has a lack of respect for his managers. He is also believed to be frustrated by how some players, including Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, have been given preferential treatment over others when applying a consistent standard of behavior.
Meanwhile, a source close to the club has claimed that the Red Devils are worried they could be “mentally damaging” Sancho with their handling of him. The winger is understood to be unhappy with his current situation and has refused to apologize for the social media post, which hit back at Ten Hag’s comments.
The latest development surprises many, considering the club’s previous handling of other incidents involving their players. They were criticized for allowing Mason Greenwood to join Getafe on loan a day before the transfer window closed. Argentina winger Antony is on paid leave pending an assault allegation against him.
