Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has shed new light on Jadon Sancho's challenging period at Old Trafford, coinciding with the winger's current struggles during his loan spell at Aston Villa.
The Turbulent Journey Since 2021
Jadon Sancho's Manchester United career has been marked by instability since his high-profile arrival in the summer of 2021. The English international has now been sent on three separate loan spells, with his current temporary move seeing him at Aston Villa under Unai Emery's management.
The 25-year-old initially returned to former club Borussia Dortmund, where he played a crucial role in their Champions League final campaign. His subsequent loan to Chelsea last season included a £25million obligation-to-buy clause, but the Blues opted to pay a penalty fee equivalent to one-fifth of that amount rather than make the transfer permanent.
Current Villa Struggles and Future Uncertainty
Sancho's time at Villa Park has yielded disappointing results so far. The winger has made just eight appearances for Unai Emery's side without registering a single goal or assist. This poor form comes despite Villa not possessing an obligation or option to purchase him at the campaign's end, leaving Sancho free to choose his next destination.
Solskjaer, who was in charge when Sancho joined United in July 2021, provided crucial context about the player's difficult start. "The club did chase Sancho - he was the best option that we had," the Norwegian revealed on Stick to Football.
Revealing the Hidden Challenges
Solskjaer disclosed previously unknown details about Sancho's early days at United. "Jadon's skill, link-up play, he offered something different and he was unlucky," Solskjaer explained. "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. He really struggled his first 10 days before he could start with us in pre-season."
The former United striker added: "I never managed to play with him because I was out before he was on fire again." This revelation provides new insight into why Sancho failed to establish himself under successive managers at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, former England striker Emile Heskey has offered his perspective on Sancho's career trajectory. "It's a tough time for the lad, but he's only young. He's only 25, so the reality is that he can get his career back on track," Heskey told 10bet Casino.
Heskey emphasised the importance of consistent football for Sancho's development: "He needs to start knuckling down and playing regular, consistent football. We've seen little glimpses of it, but we aren't seeing enough of it. Unless you play regularly, it's hard to get that fitness up to where it needs to be."
The former Liverpool striker drew parallels with his own career experiences, suggesting Sancho could follow a similar path to redemption. "Technically he's as good as anyone," Heskey noted. "He's probably technically better than all the other Villa players, but everyone else is ahead of him because they are delivering on the pitch while he isn't."
As Sancho continues his Villa loan, the football world watches to see if the once-promising winger can rediscover the form that made him one of Europe's most sought-after talents during his Borussia Dortmund days.
