Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has broken his silence on the troubled Old Trafford career of winger Jadon Sancho, revealing a previously undisclosed medical issue that hampered the player's start at the club.
The Turbulent United Journey
Jadon Sancho arrived at Manchester United with great expectation during the summer of 2021, but his time at the club has been marked by disappointment and constant movement. The England international has failed to establish himself under multiple managers, including Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, leading to three separate loan spells away from Old Trafford.
Following disagreements with management, Sancho initially returned to former club Borussia Dortmund, where he remarkably helped fire the German giants to the Champions League final. His subsequent loan switch to Chelsea included a £25million obligation-to-buy clause, yet the Blues opted to pay just a fifth of that sum as a penalty fee rather than make the deal permanent.
The 25-year-old is currently plying his trade at Aston Villa, where he has managed just eight appearances under Unai Emery without registering a single goal or assist. Crucially, Villa hold no obligation or option to secure him permanently when the season concludes, leaving his future completely uncertain.
Solskjaer's Revealing Account
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Solskjaer provided crucial context about Sancho's difficult beginning at United, having been in charge when the Manchester City academy product joined in July 2021. "The club did [chase Sancho] he was the best option that we had," Solskjaer revealed.
"We wanted to take the next step, not from moving away but add in the last third players that could break teams down. Jadon's skill, link-up play, he offered something different and he was unlucky, before he came he went on holiday and then all this diving but he got an infection in his ear so he was in hospital."
The Norwegian manager disclosed that Sancho "really struggled his first 10 days" before he could even begin pre-season training with United. "That's not come out but he's struggled," Solskjaer added, highlighting a significant factor that has remained private until now.
Managerial Changes and Missed Opportunities
The timing of events proved particularly unfortunate for both player and manager. Solskjaer was dismissed by United in November 2021 following the team's humiliating 4-1 defeat at Watford, meaning he "never managed to play with him because I was out before he was on fire again."
Ralf Rangnick stepped in as caretaker manager for the remainder of that campaign before Erik ten Hag assumed control the subsequent summer, beginning a new chapter at United that ultimately didn't include Sancho as a central figure.
Sancho's career at Manchester United serves as a cautionary tale about how early setbacks, managerial changes, and undisclosed health issues can derail even the most promising football talents, leaving a £73 million signing facing an uncertain future at just 25 years old.
