Manchester United's nightmarish association with Jadon Sancho (26, Aston Villa), whom they acquired for £73 million (about 144.7 billion won), is finally coming to an end.
The British Telegraph reported on the 9th (Korean time) that Jadon Sancho is expected to leave Manchester United this summer, and his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund is considering a third signing.
United spent as much as £73 million to bring Sancho in 2021. At the time, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had wanted the player for more than a year. After long negotiations they brought him in. The result was disastrous.
Sancho managed only 12 goals in a Manchester United shirt. By calculation, that means more than £6 million (about 11.9 billion won) per goal. That is why it is considered one of the worst failed signings in United's history.
United have an option to extend Sancho's contract until 2027. They did not activate it. The contract ends this summer. Sancho is likely to leave the team as a free agent.
Sancho is currently on loan at Aston Villa. The last official match he played for United was in August 2023. Over five seasons he started only 41 Premier League matches.
Even after leaving United, Sancho continued to drift. In the 2023-2024 season he was loaned to Dortmund and reached the UEFA Champions League final. He then spent time at Chelsea. Instead of permanently signing Sancho last June, Chelsea paid a £5 million penalty and returned him to United.
There is a team willing to reach out to Sancho again. It is Dortmund.
Dortmund brought Sancho in 2017 when he was playing in Manchester City's youth ranks. Thereafter Sancho exploded in the Bundesliga and became an iconic player who helped spur the trend of English prospects moving to Germany.
And now, nine years later, Dortmund is considering a third signing of Sancho.
Dortmund director general Lars Ricken said in an interview with German media, "We are reviewing several players. We are analyzing whether they can make the team stronger," and added, "Jadon Sancho is one of them."
He went on to explain, "We are looking for a player who can contribute immediately, add quality in attack, and does not require an unrealistic transfer fee."
From Sancho's perspective, Dortmund is close to a last chance. He failed at United. He was also discarded at Chelsea. He is not guaranteed a clear future at Villa either.
Fans' views are also cold. Last February, when Marcus Rashford made his Aston Villa debut, Sancho left a short comment on social media saying "freedom." United fans interpreted this as mockery toward the club and its supporters. The criticism intensified.
Nonetheless, Sancho is not entirely finished yet. He could reach the Europa League final with Villa this season and is aiming for Champions League qualification next season.
But one clear fact remains. His time at United is over. Expectations were high. Disappointment was greater. The association between Sancho and United ultimately ended leaving only wounds for both sides.
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