Pep Guardiola's warning about Jadon Sancho that Man Utd ignored

Man Utd shipped out Jadon Sancho on loan to Aston Villa on transfer deadline day, but the Red Devils could have avoided the winger's turbulent tenure if they had heeded Pep Guardiola's warning

Pep Guardiola's warning over Jadon Sancho's mentality fell on deaf ears when Manchester United finally signed the winger back in 2021. Sancho broke through the Manchester City youth academy in 2017 under the Spanish boss.

However, the 25-year-old failed to ever make a professional appearance for the Cityzens as he was shipped off to Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth around £8million. Asked in 2019 why Sancho was sold on rather than deployed by Guardiola, the 54-year-old said: "I don't know.

"He didn't want to take this challenge [to fight his way into the first team], this opportunity to discover if he was able to. He decided to go there. So, it's perfect. It's going well and congratulations on what he is doing.

READ MORE: Man Utd seal TWO transfer exits and potential £59.5m windfall - but it's a major lossREAD MORE: Marcus Rashford statements speak volumes as Man Utd line up Jadon Sancho deal

"He is doing an incredible performance. He did it incredibly well this season. What would have happened this season [at City]? I don't know. Again, with the players, it depends on them and what they do on the pitch."

While Guardiola was quick to share his delight that Sancho was seeing success in the Bundesliga, his comments regarding the winger's will to fight for his place may have sounded alarm bells among many managers.

Sancho's tally of 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 outings for Die Schwarzgelben between 2017 and 2021 was alluring enough to see United snap him up in a £73m move after a prolonged chase for his signature.

But his tenure with the Red Devils has been far from smooth sailing in the years since. In his first two seasons at Old Trafford, Sancho managed just nine Premier League goals from 55 games, before he rejoined Dortmund after falling out with Erik ten Hag for his performances in training.

Speaking following United's 3-1 loss to Arsenal back in September 2023 – a game in which Sancho did not travel for – Ten Hag said: "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, meanwhile, was quick to fire back at his manager's comments, claiming that he was being used as a "scapegoat." He wrote on social media: "Please don't believe everything you read.

"I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter which I won't go into, I've 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 the team. I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!"

The Englishman returned to Dortmund on a short-term loan in January 2024 before making his way back to the Red Devils in the summer, where he drew a line with Ten Hag on their disagreement. However, his tenure at Old Trafford didn't last long, joining Chelsea on a season-long loan with a £25m obligation to buy dependent on performances.

Despite a somewhat fruitful campaign with Chelsea, the board ultimately opted not to exercise their mandatory purchase, instead paying a £5m penalty to see Sancho head back to the north west under new boss Ruben Amorim. But yet again, his tenure at Old Trafford was curtailed when the Portuguese tactician deemed him surplus to requirements with regards to his own plans.

As a result, Sancho has secured a transfer deadline day move to Aston Villa on loan, where he will hope for a Premier League resurgence under Unai Emery. Given that Sancho's contract expires next summer, there is no obligation to buy attached to the deal. However, the United board also have the option to extend his contract by a year to prevent him walking away from the club as a free agent.

Click here to read article