Manchester United’s players have been urging Jadon Sancho to apologise to Erik ten Hag in a last-ditch attempt to save his career at the club.
Senior United figures are preparing to sell Sancho in January after they accepted that there will be no resolution to his damaging feud with Ten Hag should the winger continue to hold his current stance.
Sancho has been exiled by Ten Hag ever since he was left out of the squad for the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal on September 3, with the Dutchman claiming his omission came because he was failing to perform to the required standard in training.
Ten Hag said at the Emirates: “Jadon, on his performances in training we did not select him. 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.”
Sancho didn’t take too kindly to that level of public statement, and quickly issued a response on social media.
Sancho wrote: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that [are] completely untrue. I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I have 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 [I’m] grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!”
Sancho would later delete the statement from both his Instagram and X accounts, before deactivating them both. Ten Hag then made him train alone and even eat away from the first-team squad.
Now, as per The Guardian, senior members of United’s squad are said to be trying to convince Sancho to apologise to his manager, with other figures around United stating that the issue can only be resolved if he says sorry for effectively calling Ten Hag a liar in such a public fashion.
Also…..
Why David De Gea has still not signed for new club after leaving Manchester United
Man Utd brutally axed long-serving goalkeeper David De Gea this summer and replaced him with Andre Onana.
David De Gea is yet to sign for a new club after leaving Manchester United this summer. The long-serving Spanish goalkeeper, 32, was brutally axed by manager Erik ten Hag and replaced by Andre Onana after his 12 memorable years between the Old Trafford posts.
However, six weeks after the transfer window closed, De Gea has been unable – or unwilling – to settle on his next adventure. While there is no definite reason why, there are one or two best-placed theories that would explain it.
Before his departure was confirmed, De Gea had been expected to sign a new contract with United and, on more than one occasion, the former Atletico Madrid stopper outlined his wish to stay. Ten Hag – for the record – had also been open in his praise for the Spanish for his service and performances last season.
Of course, the ex-Ajax manager was never going to close the door on De Gea until another one opened. But while Onana was sworn in to help United change up their playing style, his predecessor remains a goalkeeper still capable of playing in the highest divisions but, crucially, one without a top-level club.
De Gea was tentatively linked with a return to Madrid – this time with Real – as a stop-gap replacement for Thibaut Courtois when the Belgium number one picked up an ACL injury in pre-season. However, the Spanish giants instead completed a loan move for another man familiar to the capital in Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
According to contrasting reports, De Gea turned down a proposed transfer to Saudi Arabia this summer – despite the lucrative benefits that market has brought former teammates such as Cristiano Ronaldo – while he’s claimed to favour a move back to his homeland. As a free agent he will not have to wait for January, either.
Other, perhaps less reputable, sources have even hinted De Gea could retire if he is not able to attract the sort of challenge he still craves. With a wage peaking at £375,000-a-week during his time with United, there are few clubs if any who could get near that – let alone for a goalkeeper heading into his twilight years.
Interest in De Gea and what he might or might not be up to next will, naturally, intensify with Onana struggling to make his mark with the gloves at United just yet. His options remain open even with the market still closed.