Man Utd legend slams 'unproven' Sancho after Dortmund transfer

Tom Weber

• Updated: 17 Jan 2024 18:31 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United legend Jaap Stam believes that Jadon Sancho leaving Old Trafford was the right course of action for everyone involved.

The 23-year-old headed back on loan to former club Borussia Dortmund and made an instant impact, assisting Marco Reus shortly after being substituted against promoted Darmstadt. It has only been one game but Sancho appears to be thriving back in Germany, spreading nothing but positivity on his now-reactived social media accounts.

Prior to his move, Sancho had been in Man Utd exile for several months due to essentially calling head coach Erik ten Hag a liar in September. Questions had been asked of the winger's disciplinary record, but Dortmund bosses - and even ex-Red Devils interim manager Ralf Rangick - recently jumped to Sancho's defence, insisting that he does not have any discipline issues.

While Dortmund have been buyoed by Sancho's arrival, Man Utd still haven't overcome their issues, only mustering a lucky 2-2 home draw against Tottenham in their most recent game. However with the England international gone, Red Devils legend Jaap Stam believes Erik ten Hag's job will now be easier.

What did Stam say?

Speaking to Ladbrokes Fanzone, the Dutchman said of Sancho: “It’s good for the manager [that he's gone] because it means he’s not going to be asked all of the same questions about the player. I think it’s better for all parties that he moved on."

"Sometimes you see players with this kind of power within themselves, even though they haven’t proven themselves at the club, or at a certain level, but they’re not happy with how the manager has treated them, or what the manager has said about them… but they still get a great move out of it, to go and play somewhere else. It’s better for everyone that he left, I think.”

Dortmund do not have an option to buy Sancho at the end of his loan deal. Man Utd just want him to get game time under his belt in hopes that his transfer value can recover enough for him to yield a significant fee if he were to be sold in the summer. Sancho, for his part, believes he can outlive Ten Hag at Old Trafford.