The secret obstacle that halted Sancho's United journey
The High-Profile Move and the Struggles That Followed
In the summer of 2021, Jadon Sancho made a highly anticipated move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United in a £73 million deal. The transfer was seen as a significant step for the club’s attacking line, with Sancho being viewed as a player who could bring skill, creativity, and an edge to the final third of the pitch.
However, the transition did not go as smoothly as expected. Over the course of two seasons, Sancho managed just 12 goals in 83 appearances for the Red Devils, failing to consistently secure a starting position. His performance was often inconsistent, leading to loan spells — first back at Dortmund and now at Aston Villa, where he is hoping to revive his career.
At 25 years old, Sancho has made eight appearances for Aston Villa under manager Unai Emery this season but is still searching for his first goal or assist. The challenges he has faced have raised questions about what went wrong during his time at Old Trafford.
The Health Issue That Changed Everything
During an interview on The Overlap, a series hosted by Gary Neville, former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed a previously unknown factor that may have impacted Sancho’s early days at the club.
Solskjaer explained that Sancho’s struggles began even before his debut with United. “We wanted to take the next step — not move away from what we had, but add something different in the final third,” he said. “Jadon, with his skill, link-up play, and little passes around the box, gave us that.”
However, Sancho faced a health issue that affected his performance right from the start. “He was unlucky, though. Before he joined, he went on holiday, as you do, and ended up getting an ear infection,” Solskjaer added. According to the Norwegian manager, the infection was severe enough to require hospitalization, leaving Sancho unable to participate in pre-season training for the first 10 days.
Lost Momentum Under Solskjaer
This early setback disrupted Sancho’s integration into the team. “That hasn’t really come out before,” Solskjaer said. “So, yeah, I never really got to play with him properly, because by the time he was finding form again, I was already on my way out.”
Solskjaer’s tenure at Manchester United came to an end in November 2021 after a string of poor results, and Sancho found himself adapting to yet another manager at Old Trafford. This constant change in leadership, Solskjaer suggested, may have contributed to Sancho’s slow start.
Frustrations at Aston Villa
Fast forward to the 2025 Premier League season, and Sancho’s search for consistency continues. Last month, he experienced an awkward moment during Villa’s 2–1 win when he was brought on for Emi Buendia only to be substituted off 45 minutes later.
After the match, Unai Emery addressed the decision, acknowledging that it was an uncomfortable situation. “Yes, sure he’s not happy,” Emery said. “But I did it before with Morgan Rogers, with Emiliano Buendia, with Leon Bailey, and he played 60 minutes on Thursday.”
Emery explained that the plan had been to use Sancho briefly, but an early injury forced a tactical reshuffle. “I told him as well — he can feel it, it’s embarrassing,” he added.
Searching for a Spark
The early health setback at Manchester United might help explain why Sancho never truly settled at the club. Now, at Aston Villa, he has another chance to rediscover the spark that once made him one of Europe’s most promising young talents.
Still, patience is wearing thin among fans — and as the season unfolds, all eyes will be on whether Sancho can finally find the confidence and rhythm that once made him such a standout at Dortmund.
