Gareth Southgate said what everyone was thinking about Jadon Sancho in September. Southgate had picked Sancho for his England squad, but he admitted that his performances for Manchester United 'probably' weren't good enough to warrant selection.
After moving to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund for £72.9million a few months before that Southgate interview, Sancho failed to show why United were so persistent in their pursuit of his signature. United pushed hard to sign the winger in 2017 after learning that he was unsettled at Man City, and they also tried to sign him in 2020 before talks with Dortmund collapsed.
Sancho spent another year developing in the Bundesliga and United returned to the table in 2021 for talks. Dortmund conveniently needed to raise capital after being affected by the pandemic and finally a deal was agreed, putting an end to the long transfer saga.
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The move was four years in the making and that meant high expectations for Sancho in his first season in the Premier League. Sancho had contributed 50 goals and 64 assists in 135 appearances for Dortmund and he had established himself as one of Europe's most exciting prospects. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged fans to have patience with Sancho, but predicted he would reach the top.
By September, just two months after the move, Southgate was public admitting the player's United displays weren't good enough. Sancho had met adversity for the first time in his senior career in the opening weeks of the season and he seemed a shadow of himself.
Although Solskjaer was tactically flawed, his man-management skills could never be questioned and he rejected Southgate's comments about Sancho. "Was that interview [with Southgate] done before Wednesday night? Jadon was exceptional, he was electric," he said.
"The crowd loved him. think he felt that connection with the crowd, and that is what we want from him, to be direct, positive, go past players numerous times. Yeah he's not scored yet but that night I thought: 'Yeah that's Jadon and we're going to see loads of that.'
"And Gareth has also said it's important Jadon knows they believe in him. They have invested time in him. He will be a top player. Performances are going to come. He'll come good, we've got absolutely no worries. If he goes there I'm sure he will play well."
Solskjaer was adamant Sancho would become a 'top player' during his time at the club. Although that's hardly a bold prediction considering the vast potential he demonstrated playing for Dortmund, Sancho always seemed destined to prove the Norwegian right.
But despite Solskjaer's words, the ex United boss seemingly had no idea how to get the best from Sancho and that contributed to a difficult first year back in Manchester. Sancho scored five goals and created three assists last term and he failed to sustain strong performances, meaning flashes of brilliance were sporadic at best.
United have a tactically competent manager in charge for the first time in three years and Erik ten Hag should be able to coach Sancho back to something like his best. It is a guarantee that United fans have not seen the best of Sancho yet.
United have just returned from their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia and they played four games friendly games across those countries. Sancho was one of six players — Anthony Martial, Fred, Bruno Fernandes, Victor Lindelof and Diogo Dalot — who started in all four games. Sancho scored three goals across those fixtures and grew in confidence as the weeks went by.
He looked inventive, dangerous and bright whenever in possession and he started each game on the right-wing, which is also encouraging. That was the position Sancho was signed to occupy and United have a dearth of options for that role.
Sancho's pre-season was interrupted last year. He played at the European Championship with England and he had an infection in his ear, which meant he wasn't fit enough for the start of the campaign. Sancho has dealt with no such obstacles this summer.
It needs no reminding that Sancho is seriously talented and he looks ready to show it this season.
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