Jadon Sancho’s future at Manchester United was thrown further into doubt on Thursday when the club said the England winger will train alone due to a “team discipline issue”. Sancho was dropped for United’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal earlier this month due to what United manager Erik ten Hag deemed a poor performance in training. The 23-year-old responded by posting on social media that he had been “scapegoated for a long time.”
In a statement, United said: “Jadon Sancho will continue to undertake a personalized training program away from the first-team squad pending a resolution to a squad discipline issue.”
Sancho was considered one of the brightest young talents in European football when he joined United from Borussia Dortmund for £73 million ($91 million) two years ago.
But he has struggled to live up to that price tag at Old Trafford, scoring just 12 goals in 82 appearances. The former Manchester City youth player was given time off between October and February last season to complete an individual winter fitness program in the Netherlands.
Ten Hag has proven to be a strict disciplinarian, even with some of his biggest stars at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell at the club was cut short after he criticized the former Ajax manager in a television interview, while Marcus Rashford was benched for a match last season after arriving late to a team meeting.
Sancho’s absence makes for a miserable start to the season for United, both on and off the pitch. Ten Hag’s men have lost two of their first four Premier League matches.
United are currently without Brazilian winger Antony after he was granted leave to fight his ex-girlfriend’s domestic abuse allegations.
United have also been criticized for their handling of Mason Greenwood, who is on loan at Spanish side Getafe, after agreeing with the player that his career at the club could not continue.
The 21-year-old was accused of attempted rape and assault, but prosecutors announced in February this year that the case had been dropped after key witnesses withdrew and new evidence came to light.
Initial reports suggested United were planning to reintroduce the striker to the team, before public outrage prompted the decision to part ways. Meanwhile, protests against United’s owners, the Glazer family, remain a common sight at home matches as the process for the Americans to sell the club appears to have stalled.
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