How does one of the most exciting young players in European football end up spending four months in exile from his club, at odds with his manager over a sub-par training session and a social media post?
How is it that one of the most highly anticipated signings in Manchester United's recent history is changing in an academy dressing room with the door locked to comply with safety guidelines?
How is it that the fourth most expensive player in the club's entire history has his meals delivered in a lunchbox due to a ban from the first team canteen?
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Special report – insight into Jadon Sancho’s exile at Manchester United
These questions are even more relevant when you consider that of all of United's key signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, Jadon Sancho was truly one that the key decision-makers at Old Trafford should have put right. Ultimately, it took almost two summers to complete.
In fact, United's interest in Sancho went back even further, emerging in dialogue with the player's agents before his departure from Manchester City's academy to German club Borussia Dortmund in 2017. Two years later, in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first summer, United also looked into a possible transfer, only to find one approach too complicated.
Not that it would have been much easier 12 months later, with the Covid-19 pandemic under control, when they made a serious attempt to sign Sancho. A deal was possible, but only on the terms set by Dortmund: a price of 120 million euros (103 million pounds/131 million US dollars at current exchange rates), which had to be met by August 10.
United were unwilling to pay that price – a stance that former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward maintained beyond Dortmund's deadline, after which the Bundesliga club would only consider a sale in the €140-150 million range .
Despite this, United continued their pursuit, incorrectly assuming that Dortmund might yield on this valuation. This misguided belief led to alternative signings being sought late in the window and when a Covid-delayed 2020-21 Premier League season was already well underway.
Jadon Sancho's form for Dortmund made him one of the most sought-after young players in Europe (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
In the final days of that window, Sancho was pictured attending a house party held to mark Abraham's birthday alongside England internationals Tammy Abraham and Ben Chilwell, in breach of lockdown restrictions. All three players subsequently missed a friendly against Wales, but returned for Nations League games against Belgium and Denmark.
It was the most high-profile example of off-field indiscretions that marked Sancho's time at Dortmund, following reports of poor punctuality and a 10,000 euro (£8,600, $11,000) fine for a haircut during lockdown.
United were aware of these concerns but believed they were a result of Sancho's desire to leave the German team permanently and believed they could create an environment in which he would want to give his best. Therefore, her interest never waned.
At the end of that season, at a meeting the morning after United's penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal in the Europa League final, key figures at Old Trafford, including then-manager Solskjaer and newly installed director of football John Murtough, decided to sign Sancho to prioritize this summer.
Unlike other major deals completed in the final years of Woodward's tenure, an agreement was reached relatively early. United agreed on a transfer fee of 73 million euros by July 1st. The contract was signed, sealed and delivered three weeks later, after the conclusion of the European Championships in the summer.
But upon his arrival at United's base in Carrington he developed a serious ear infection, forcing Sancho to go to hospital and train with cotton swabs inserted into his ear canals.
As a result, he only began training with the rest of the squad a week before the start of the 2021/22 season and Solskjaer felt unable to use him in the opening games, home against Leeds United and away at Southampton.
When he made his full debut in the 1-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third game at the end of August, he could no longer be considered United's top signing. Cristiano Ronaldo's unexpected return had only been confirmed a few days earlier.
While the five-time Ballon d'Or winner scored twice at home in a 4-1 win over Newcastle United earlier the following month, Sancho was substituted in the 66th minute. In the dressing room at game time, Sancho remarked that the pace of the game had surprised him. He was told in no uncertain terms to get used to it.
But Sancho struggled to adapt. When Solskjaer was sacked in November he had neither scored a goal nor provided an assist in 14 appearances.
In those first few months there was a feeling that more could have been done to help Sancho adapt to life in Manchester and the demands of the Premier League, particularly after such a turbulent summer and his late start to training with his new club.
Sancho's adjustment has not been helped by uncertainty over his best position. When Solskjaer switched systems and moved into the back three to halt United's slide, his new signing was even deployed as a right-back in some training sessions.
Jadon Sancho showed only fleeting glimpses of his attacking talent under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
This experiment had never been done in a game before, but it showed how a supposedly transformative newcomer had become a minor player in just a few months.
In an interview with The Athletic in September last year, Solskjaer revealed that Sancho had been identified by the recruitment department as United's first choice at right wing, an assessment with which he agreed. However, there was a problem.
“He’s incredibly talented and we haven’t seen the best of him yet,” Solskjaer said. “I hope we do, but he prefers to play on the left wing – where Marcus (Rashford) plays.”
This discrepancy between Sancho's preferred role on the left and United's overuse of players in that position was evident throughout his three seasons at Old Trafford, whoever happened to be in charge of the team.
The interim appointment of Ralf Rangnick – a pioneer of the dynamic transitional style of play that had suited Sancho in the Bundesliga – following Solskjaer's departure was seen internally and externally as a potential turning point, particularly as Sancho had impressed during Michael Carrick's caretaker spell.
Rangnick felt that Sancho was one of the players who responded most to his training methods and expressed his talent in his notoriously outspoken media appearances. Nevertheless, he also saw the need to publicly challenge him to repeat his consistent Carrington performances on the field during games.
Having initially played in the central No. 10 position under Rangnick, Sancho was trusted to start in his preferred position on the left wing for the majority of the remainder of the season until the season was ended early in late April due to tonsillitis.
Although he is far from United's worst player and just part of a struggling team, three goals and three assists from 29 appearances (20 starts) in the 2021-22 Premier League were not enough to support his claim to regular player status long-term one-sided berth.
Then, in a campaign marked by tension and disagreement, there was the moment when a group of players led by Ronaldo held a meeting with Rangnick at which it was suggested that United should play two strikers – a change in system that in turn required a change would make Sancho fall.
With the arrival of Erik ten Hag as new coach the following summer, Sancho returned to playing at right-back.
Ten Hag was happy with the winger's performances in pre-season and at the start of the season proper. Three goals in eight games – including United's first in a 2-1 home win over Liverpool and Ten Hag's first win – briefly hinted at a return to something close to the result of his Dortmund days.
But after the international break in September, United's staff noticed that Sancho's performances were declining, and a 51st-minute substitution in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea in October would be his last first-team appearance for three-and-a-half months.
Dutchman Ten Hag sent Sancho to the Netherlands to train with trusted coaches and during the World Cup break at the end of 2022 he did not travel to United's warm-weather training camp in Andalucia, Spain – a decision some saw as a disciplinary move as much as an act of care for the players, correcting sluggish training performances and tardiness rather than allowing them to fester.
Erik ten Hag and Jadon Sancho had a difficult relationship (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
During a media briefing at this warm-weather camp in Spain, Ten Hag referred to Sancho's need to work on “a combination of physical but also mental” issues – a revelation that did not go down well with some at Old Trafford. Ten Hag did not have permission from the player or his representatives to discuss the matter.
Ten Hag felt his comments were supportive of the player, while United felt not giving a reason for his absence would have fueled speculation. The manager reiterated that Sancho was not fit enough the following month, reiterating: “It's physical, but physical is also the connection with mental.”
Sancho resumed full training and returned to the pitch in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest on 1 February. From that point until the end of the season he made 27 appearances (17 of which were in the starting eleven). Although there were early signs of his ability during this run, Ten Hag remained unimpressed by the last of these performances – the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
Nevertheless, the manager spoke of Sancho being in “very good spirits” on United’s pre-season tour weeks later. Although that comment came with the caveat that the 23-year-old's “mood” was his responsibility, it was difficult to predict the breakdown in relations that would follow just weeks later.
On the first weekend of September, Sancho was left out of the traveling team due to a 3-1 away defeat against Arsenal.
Ten Hag attributed his failure to “his performance in training.”
Sancho hit back, posting on Twitter: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I won't let people say things that are completely untrue. I did very well in training this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter which I will not go into. I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time, which isn’t fair!”
At United, Sancho's reaction was seen as accusing Ten Hag of lying.
Following a permitted leave of absence during this month's international break, players and managers met in Carrington to try to resolve the disagreement.
Ten Hag showed Sancho videos of the final training session before the trip to Arsenal – a practice match between United's eventual starting XI and a shadow team, including Sancho, designed to emulate their opponents in north London. The manager was unhappy with Sancho's effort in the training session, particularly his pressing. Sancho disagreed, but further discussions were held following their meeting about how the matter should be resolved.
United wanted Sancho to delete the post and apologize to Ten Hag. This apology would then be communicated publicly. Although Sancho deleted the post, he rejected the other part of the suggestion. Reconciliation talks between player and manager ended without a solution.
On September 14, United released a statement saying Sancho would “participate in a personal training program away from the first team group until a squad discipline issue is resolved.”
Sancho hasn't played since.
His attendance at these individual training sessions was described as “well below 100 per cent” by some at United, who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships. However, his absences were attributed to illness and the club's doctors were kept informed each time. Sancho's camp denies he missed more than a few sessions, saying in any case it was because he was unwell.
Jadon Sancho has the chance to revive his career in Dortmund (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
There is speculation at Carrington that Sancho's salary of more than £200,000 a week was cut because he was not in the first team picture and the image rights were lost as a result. His contract reportedly contains a clause tying this part of his salary to membership in the senior team, although this is also disputed by the Sancho camp.
In any case, that salary meant that a permanent exit in this winter window was always unlikely.
A six-month stay in a familiar environment at Dortmund under a coach in Edin Terzic who knows him relatively well could now be the fresh start his career needs.
“When I came into the dressing room today I felt like I was coming home,” Sancho said when his return was announced on Thursday. “I know the club inside and out, have always been very closely connected to the fans here and have never lost touch with those in charge. I can’t wait to see my teammates again, get on the pitch, play football with a smile on my face, prepare goals, score goals and help qualify for the Champions League.”
Just a few weeks ago, senior figures at the Bundesliga club played down suggestions of an interest in Sancho, but Dortmund's faltering form – no wins in their last six games before the current winter break, which has left them fifth in the table – and a desire to change their attacking approach has led to a reunion.
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Why Borussia Dortmund changed its mind about Jadon Sancho returning
For United, this deal represents an opportunity to rebuild Sancho as a player or, perhaps more likely, a sellable asset in the summer.
Maybe it didn't have to be that way. Ask some who worked with Sancho and they remember a quiet and humble character. Others believe a gentler approach may have been more beneficial in getting the best out of him.
There are employees who remember how, after some persuasion, Sancho attended a Manchester United Foundation event where those present were surprised by the number of questions he had and his enthusiastic interest in the work.
However, others understand Ten Hag's tough stance, which may have been influenced by incidents that predated the September fallout. Timekeeping, for example, was a constant issue for Sancho, as it was during his first four-year spell at Dortmund.
Although their paths only crossed for a single season, former United midfielder Nemanja Matic named Sancho as one of several players who were “always late for training” in an interview with Austrian news outlet Yu Planet last month. and that wasn't the only teammate who mentioned, albeit jovially, Sancho's punctuality problems when dealing with the media.
Last season, Ten Hag staff began setting Sancho's daily schedule so that he would start at least an hour earlier than the rest of the team. This initially had the desired effect, although only initially. Some senior figures at Carrington believe that although United have tried various methods to get the best out of Sancho – be it through incentives or punishments – concerns about his attention and concentration have remained.
At this point, backing away from Ten Hag's part in this very public disagreement with his player would have resulted in him losing face, especially after taking such a harsh stance.
The consensus when appointing the United manager was that the squad he inherited from Solskjaer and Rangnick needed to be steered into shape through strict rules. A more disciplined approach from the coaching office has been attributed at least in part to United exceeding expectations in Ten Hag's debut season, qualifying for the Champions League in third place and winning the Carabao Cup, the club's first major trophy since 2017.
And for now at least, Ten Hag's approach with Sancho appears to be gaining the tacit approval of those who will take control of football operations at United in the coming weeks.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left) and Dave Brailsford (right) are expected to take over Manchester United's football operations (Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
As part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 25 percent minority stake, United had to present the English billionaire with a pre-agreed “transfer plan” setting out intentions for signings, sales and contract extensions pending ratification. Sancho's loan was part of the pre-agreed plan and therefore did not require further consultation with INEOS, Ratcliffe's company.
By the time Sancho returns from his loan spell at Dortmund, Ratcliffe's contract is expected to be completed and a decision will need to be made about what to do with the 23-cap England winger on a permanent basis.
His contract expires in the summer of 2026, but includes the option for another year. At the moment, the chances of Sancho's career at Old Trafford lasting another two and a half years or more seem slim. That is, unless his career at Old Trafford outlasts Ten Hag's. However, there is no indication that the Dutchman's position is directly threatened by the new INEOS regime.
Sancho will not be involved in these early days of the Ratcliffe-led era, instead leaving the UK and returning to the club where his undoubted potential first became apparent.
He has the chance to show what he can do again instead of spending another five months on the sidelines.
Additional reporting: Laurie Whitwell and Adam Crafton
(Top photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)