Jadon Sancho’s imminent departure from Manchester United

It may surprise you to learn that Manchester United has won the last five Premier League games in which Jadon Sancho started because his career has been so lacklustre. Sancho has started 14 games without a loss.

Sancho may say that he scored at Old Trafford more recently than Marcus Rashford, even as he leaves for what is intended to be a career restart on loan at Borussia Dortmund. Also, more recently than Antony, the £85 million acquisition who replaced him.

Sancho faced several difficult challenges. Although he was ranked seventh in the Premier League for predicted assists from open play the previous season, there was still a perception that he fell short. Things became sour once his friendship with Erik ten Hag broke down.

The concern with Antony is that, despite the fact that his drive and winning mentality are praised, there are still doubts about his capacity to develop into the player that United needs him to be. There were questions from the beginning.

“He plays so childishly,” the legendary Dutch player Marco van Basten remarked upon his transfer. “I also dislike the way he shoots. It’s all about the numbers, about assists and goals. I’m not feeling too impressed. Great colleague Ruud Gullit also publicly questioned if he would succeed in England.

More recently, another Dutchman who has watched Antony’s career and was formerly a player for United, Jaap Stam, characterised his time at Ajax in less than flattering terms. “He did alright in Holland,” Stam said to The Overlap. “It was not like he was the best player in Holland.”