Former Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes the environment that has been created at Manchester United this season has contributed to Jadon Sancho's slow start to life at the club.
Signed in a £72.9million deal from Borussia Dortmund last summer, the England international, who was a long-term target for United, has so far struggled to impose himself on proceedings at Old Trafford.
His first 25 appearances for the club in all competitions have produced just three goals and no assists, meaning question marks have been raised about why he has struggled to replicate the levels of success he enjoyed in Germany that earned him a switch to United.
But although he has started to show signs of life in his last two appearances, the winger, who scored against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup last Friday evening, has failed to live up to expectations so far.
For Hamann, the current situation the club finds itself in, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo's shock return to United last summer, has hindered Sancho's maiden season at Old Trafford.
"I think at the moment, the environment Manchester United have is not helping him one bit," Hamann told the Metro on behalf of FreeSuperTips. "I don't think there's an identity to this United team which makes it difficult for a player to come into.
"There's question marks over Ronaldo and whether he hinders the team and whether people are actually scared of him.
"It doesn't look a good environment to work in and as a new player it's never easy to perform from day one.
"He should know the way the Premier League is having come through Manchester City's academy, but I am surprised he's struggled this much so far.
"But you could say that about most of the team, they don't look like a side who pulls together, and a manager has to try to come in and sort that out.
"Someone needs to make sure these players pull in the same direction which isn't the case right now.
"They paid an awful lot of money for Sancho, and I think they'd struggle to recoup that, so he'll be here for the long-term.
"Hopefully he can start to play better than he has done so far."
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