Erik ten Hag responds to Jadon Sancho’s “secret” Man United desire

Erik ten Hag has again addressed Jadon Sancho’s situation at Manchester United ahead of the January transfer market opening.

Sancho, 23, has been exiled from the first-team squad at United for over two months following a public statement against his manager.

Ten Hag had criticised Sancho for his training performance after he left him out of the United squad to face Arsenal in September.

The winger responded on social media platform X, formally known as Twitter, and accused the manager of lying and stated that he was being ‘scapegoated’.

Sancho has not appeared for the first team since and has been training away from the squad on his own. There have been many rumours linking him away from Old Trafford.

The latest report from German reporter Florian Plettenberg states that Sancho is open to rejoining his former club, Borussia Dortmund. It is added that many questions need to be addressed before any move can happen – and at this point in time, there is no direct contact between the two clubs.

Yet, Plettenberg also mentioned that Sancho has a secret desire for an opportunity to restart his career at Manchester United. 

Following this report, Ten Hag has stated that Sancho knows what he has to do in order to be re-integrated into the squad.

Asked whether Sancho will be leaving the club in the January transfer window, Ten Hag responded: “So, it’s about culture, and every player has to match certain standards, and it was about that.

“So, what will happen, yeah, he knows what he has to do if he wants to return. So, it’s up to him.”

The manager was then further pushed on the subject, and asked whether he would agree that the current situation with the player could not continue. Ten Hag reiterated: “He knows what he has to do. It’s up to him.”

Ten Hag has recently praised Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire for turning their fortunes around at Old Trafford.

It remains unknown whether the same could happen for Sancho.