Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has publicly praised Jadon Sancho following the winger's impactful performance off the bench for Aston Villa against his former club, Chelsea.
Rooney's Verdict on Villa Cameo
Sancho entered the fray during Aston Villa's Premier League clash with Chelsea on Saturday night, marking a rare appearance against the side he helped to UEFA Conference League glory last season. Despite limited minutes, his contribution did not go unnoticed by the former England captain.
"Jadon Sancho came into this as well, and we haven't seen much of him this season, but I thought he was excellent when he came on," Rooney stated during his analysis on BBC's Match of the Day. "Getting the ball, driving with the ball and committing the Chelsea defenders and then they had runners, they had Morgan Rogers making runs in behind."
Sancho's Complex Season and Chelsea Snub
The 25-year-old joined Villa on a season-long loan from Manchester United during the summer transfer window. His outing against Chelsea was just his 14th for the Midlands club, having been ineligible to face his parent club the previous week due to standard loan regulations.
Sancho's move to Villa Park came after a surprising turn of events with Chelsea. The London club had an obligation to buy him permanently for £25 million as part of last season's loan deal, a clause triggered by his key role in their European triumph, which included scoring in the final against Real Betis.
However, Chelsea opted against the permanent transfer, instead paying a penalty fee to United. Reports indicate this decision was influenced by Sancho not being included in the squad for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
An Uncertain Future at Old Trafford
Attention now turns to what comes next for the former Borussia Dortmund star. His Manchester United contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026, placing his long-term future in serious doubt.
United do hold a 12-month extension option, which they could activate to protect the player's value and avoid losing him on a free transfer next year. This would allow them to seek a fee for Sancho in the upcoming summer window.
Sancho's immediate focus will be on seizing his next opportunity for Villa. His chance to build on Rooney's praise comes quickly, with Aston Villa travelling to face Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night in their final fixture of the calendar year.
