In a recent turn of events, Manchester United's star forward, Jadon Sancho, finds himself at the center of a controversy that has led to his exclusion from the first team. The English player's public disagreement with the team's head coach, Erik ten Hag, has escalated to a point where Sancho has been relegated to train separately from the main squad.
The rift between the two became public knowledge when Sancho was noticeably absent from Manchester United's traveling squad earlier this month. Ten Hag, addressing the omission, hinted that Sancho's performance in training was subpar, leading to his decision. Sancho, in response, took to social media to counter Ten Hag's claims, suggesting that he had been unfairly made a "scapegoat" at Manchester United for an extended period.
The situation intensified when, during a meeting held on Monday to address the issue, Sancho reportedly refused to apologize to Ten Hag for his public remarks. This refusal has resulted in Sancho's current separation from the main team, with the forward now training at the club's academy facilities. Until the matter is resolved, Sancho will not be considered for team selection.
Manchester United, in an official statement, confirmed Sancho's status: "Jadon Sancho will remain on a personal training programme away from the first-team group, pending resolution of a squad discipline issue."
The club's football director, John Murtough, and CEO Richard Arnold have both been pulled into the discussions surrounding the incident. While Arnold has been kept informed of the ongoing developments, Murtough has played a more hands-on role in the proceedings.
After a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Ten Hag elaborated on his decision to exclude Sancho, stating, "Jadon, on his performance in training, we didn't select him. You have to reach the level every day at Manchester United, you can make choices in the front line, so in this game he wasn't selected."
Sancho, not one to remain silent, responded on social media, emphasizing his commitment to training and hinting at other underlying reasons for his exclusion. He expressed his desire to play football joyfully and contribute to Manchester United's success. However, following the meeting with Ten Hag, Sancho's contentious social media post was deleted.
This isn't the first instance of tension between Sancho and Ten Hag. Last season, Sancho was separated from the first team for approximately three months due to physical and mental challenges. Ten Hag had even commented that Sancho wasn't fit enough to play at one point.
Jadon Sancho, who transitioned to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 for a whopping £73m, has scored 12 goals in 82 matches across all competitions for Manchester United since his arrival. The current situation raises questions about his future with the club and how the management plans to navigate this challenging phase.
