Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho has struggled to make an impact so far at Aston Villa and his former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opened up on the winger's early days at United
Jadon Sancho of Aston Villa
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Jadon Sancho has struggled to make an impact at Aston Villa(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
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Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had his say on Jadon Sancho's time at Old Trafford.
The English winger joined United in the summer of 2021, but fell out of favour at Old Trafford under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. After being sidelined from the squad by two different managers, he has been sent on three separate loan spells, the first of which saw him return to his former club Borussia Dortmund, where he played a crucial role in getting the German side to the Champions League final.
He was loaned to Chelsea last season, with his move including a £25million obligation-to-buy clause. However, the Blues chose to pay a fifth of that as a penalty fee for not exercising that option.
Sancho returned to M16 this past summer before being loaned out to Aston Villa. The 25-year-old had made just eight appearances for Unai Emery's side so far, where he has failed to score or provide an assist.
Villa do not have an obligation or option to buy him at the end of the season, meaning he is free to pick his next club. And ex-Reds striker Solskjaer has opened up on Sancho's early life at United, having been manager when the Manchester City academy graduate arrived at the club in July 2021.
"The club did [chase Sancho] he was the best option that we had," Solskjaer said on Stick to Football.
"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.
"He really struggled his first 10 days before he could start with us in pre-season before he come to United. That’s not come out but he’s struggled.
"I never managed to play with him because I was out before he was on fire again."
Solskjaer was sacked by United in November 2021 after the Reds lost 4-1 at Watford. Ralf Rangnick replaced him as interim boss for the rest of the season before Ten Hag took over the following summer.
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