Manchester United loanee, Jadon Sancho, breezed past Paris St-Germain defenders time and time again as Borussia Dortmund took a slender 1-0 advantage in the Champions League semi-final first leg and left many Man Utd fans asking why their club could not get the best out of the forward.
The 24-year-old Sancho had completed more dribbles by half-time in front of Dortmund’s raucous ‘Yellow Wall’ on Wednesday than he managed in any of his 58 appearances in the Premier League as he showed signs of being the player United paid Dortmund £73m for in July 2021.
His high-profile move to Old Trafford saw him struggle for form and consistency, scoring 12 goals in 82 appearances, and falling out with manager Erik ten Hag.
Dortmund fans though are enjoying a different player since his return on loan in January – one who could help their side into the Champions League final against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium.
Sancho finished the match with 12 successful dribbles, the most completed by a player in a Champions League match this season.
It was also the most by a player in a Champions League semi-final since Lionel Messi in April 2008 against Manchester United (16) and the most on record in the competition by an Englishman.
With performances like this, it is no wonder Dortmund wanted Sancho to remain next season.
But, for the loan to be repeated next season or turned into a permanent transfer, it would require significant compromise on all sides.
Dortmund can’t match the salary Sancho gets at United. But United, under severe pressure to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, cannot just hand over an asset of that size.
It is clear there is no future for Sancho at Old Trafford if Ten Hag remains as manager. But he may not, which opens up the possibility of a return to United even if the feeling persists he will be playing elsewhere next season.
