Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has acknowledged that Jadon Sancho was left out of the squad for the second consecutive Premier League match due to “some issues.” Sancho, who seemed to have been reintegrated into the team during pre-season after a previous falling out with Ten Hag, was notably absent again when United’s lineup to face Brighton & Hove Albion was announced on Saturday.
Sancho’s exclusion from the match against Brighton follows his absence from the season opener against Fulham a little over a week ago. Despite being involved in the Community Shield match at Wembley Stadium, Sancho has not featured in United’s Premier League games so far this season.
In a brief interview with TNT Sports shortly before kickoff at the Amex Stadium, Ten Hag confirmed Sancho’s presence at the club but alluded to undisclosed issues that influenced his decision. “He is here but we had some issues,” Ten Hag stated, without offering any specific details. “I had a choice to make. He has to compete for his position. We need in the squad every position double because it’s going to be a long season.”
For the match against Brighton, Ten Hag chose to stick with an unchanged starting lineup from the previous game. This decision meant that Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo were deployed as wide forwards, flanking club captain Bruno Fernandes, who played in a ‘false nine’ role. Another notable absentee was Joshua Zirkzee, despite his heroics off the bench in the previous match against Fulham, where he scored the winning goal.
Sancho’s future at Manchester United remains uncertain as reports suggest that Juventus have shown interest in signing the winger in the final week of the summer transfer window.
However, any potential move might initially take the form of a loan deal. United have reportedly set a £40 million valuation on Sancho, but no club has matched this figure so far, leaving his future in limbo.
Juventus are said to be interested in signing a couple of wingers before the transfer deadline, with Fiorentina’s Nico Gonzalez also on their radar alongside Sancho. Discussions between United and Juventus have reportedly been initiated, and talks are ongoing. However, whether a permanent transfer for Sancho will be financially viable for all parties involved remains to be seen.
As the transfer window draws to a close, the uncertainty surrounding Sancho’s future at Manchester United continues to be a topic of discussion. Ten Hag’s comments suggest that the winger’s place in the team is far from secure, and with interest from Juventus, a resolution may be reached in the coming days.
