Burned Bridges with Ten Hag: Jadon Sancho Seeks Escape Ticket from Manchester United in Serie A

Tensions are high at Manchester United, a giant club in the English Premier League. Jadon Sancho, who has been sidelined since the start of the season due to disagreements with manager Erik ten Hag and is not even allowed in the first-team facilities, is expected to leave the club in the January transfer window. The English star's career with the Red Devils has turned into a major disappointment, and the latest reports suggest Sancho's next destination could be Italy's Serie A, known for its tactical richness. Sancho joined Manchester United in the summer of 2021 from Borussia Dortmund for a staggering fee of 85 million euros but fell far short of expectations at Old Trafford. The winger, who burst onto the scene in the Bundesliga with goals and assists, struggled to adapt to the physical and fast-paced nature of the Premier League. However, the final straw was an issue related to discipline rather than sporting performance. ## Behind the Conflict: Anatomy of the Ten Hag and Sancho Battle It all started before a critical match against Arsenal on September 3. Dutch manager Erik ten Hag, when asked about Jadon Sancho, who wasn't included in the match squad, replied, "He is not in the squad due to his training performances. You have to meet certain standards every day at Manchester United. That's why he wasn't selected for this match." This remark could have been a standard message from a manager to his player under normal circumstances. However, Sancho's reaction sparked the crisis. After being left out, Sancho issued a statement on his personal social media account directly targeting his manager. "Please don't believe everything you read. I won't allow people to say completely false things. I performed very well in training this week. I believe there are other reasons for not being included in the squad. I have been made a scapegoat for a long time, and that's not fair!" he wrote. This post caused a shock within the club. For a player to openly contradict his manager in front of cameras is considered unacceptable behavior at a club like Manchester United. Ten Hag is known for his uncompromising attitude toward discipline. This was the foundation of the system he established at Ajax. Following Sancho's outburst, the Dutch manager demanded an apology from the player. However, the English player refused to back down. The result of this standoff was severe: Sancho was indefinitely sidelined and only allowed to train with the academy team. Even his access to the first-team canteen was revoked. This incident was the de facto end to Sancho's career at Manchester United. ## A New Path: Juventus's Plan for Sancho As the January transfer window approaches, Manchester United's management is exploring options to move Sancho. His substantial weekly salary of £350,000 makes a permanent transfer challenging. Therefore, a loan deal emerges as the most likely scenario. At this point, Italian giant Juventus has emerged as a serious contender. Leading Italian sports newspapers report that Juventus's sporting directors are closely monitoring Sancho's situation and preparing a loan offer. Coached by Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus is struggling with creativity in attack this season. They're looking for a winger capable of reducing the burden on Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic, who can beat opponents one-on-one and contribute to scoring. If Sancho regains his form, he perfectly fits this profile. However, the biggest obstacle to this transfer is financial conditions. It's unlikely that Juventus can cover Sancho's entire salary. The Italian club's plan is based on a loan formula where at least half of the player's salary continues to be paid by Manchester United. Given United's desire to offload him quickly, they might be open to this formula. Sources close to the club suggest that United might agree to this transfer in exchange for a small loan fee and covering part of the salary burden. ## Alternatives and an Old Flame: Borussia Dortmund Serie A isn't the only option for Sancho. He's also being linked with a return to his former club Borussia Dortmund, where he became a global star. Dortmund fans yearn for the return of their old hero. A return to Signal Iduna Park, where he had his brightest days, could be a great opportunity to revive his career. However, like in the Juventus scenario, Dortmund cannot afford his Manchester United salary. Again, a loan deal involving shared wages could come into play. Additionally, clubs from the Saudi Arabian Pro League are known to be monitoring his situation. While Sancho's salary isn't a problem for Saudi clubs, it's a big question mark whether a 23-year-old player at the early stage of his career would want to leave the pinnacle of European football. ## A Star's Fall or a New Beginning? Jadon Sancho's story is a complex example of talent, expectation, and discipline in modern football. A young player who moved through Watford's youth setup to Manchester City and proved himself at Borussia Dortmund has faced a dramatic downturn at Manchester United, which he saw as his dream club. The thin line between Ten Hag's attempt to maintain authority and a player's right to publicly defend himself formed the crux of this crisis. Now it's decision time for Sancho. The choice he makes in January will directly impact the rest of his career. Can he find himself again within Italy's tactical discipline and prove critics wrong? Or will he rise from the ashes amongst those who know him best in Germany? One thing is certain: Jadon Sancho's time at Manchester United is up, and the countdown to his escape from the Red Devils has begun. The football world awaits his next move with anticipation.