Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted that Jadon Sancho was left out of the squad for the second straight Premier League match due to “some issues.”
Sancho, who appeared to have been reintegrated into the team during pre-season after a previous disagreement with Ten Hag, was notably absent again when United’s lineup to face Brighton & Hove Albion was revealed on Saturday.
Sancho’s omission from the Brighton match follows his absence from the season opener against Fulham just over a week ago.
Although he participated in the Community Shield match at Wembley Stadium, Sancho has not yet featured in United’s Premier League games this season.
In a brief interview with TNT Sports shortly before kickoff at the Amex Stadium, Ten Hag confirmed that Sancho is still with the club but hinted at unspecified issues that influenced his decision.
“He is here, but we had some issues,” Ten Hag said, without going into detail. “I had a choice to make. He has to compete for his position. We need every position in the squad doubled because it’s going to be a long season.”
For the Brighton match, Ten Hag opted to retain the same starting lineup as in the previous game. This decision meant Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo were used as wide forwards, with club captain Bruno Fernandes playing in a ‘false nine’ role.
Another notable absentee was Joshua Zirkzee, despite his decisive goal off the bench in the previous match against Fulham.
Sancho’s future at Manchester United remains uncertain, with reports indicating that Juventus have expressed interest in signing the winger during the final week of the summer transfer window.
However, any potential move might initially be a loan deal. United have reportedly set a £40 million price tag on Sancho, but no club has matched this valuation yet, leaving his future in doubt.
Juventus is reportedly looking to sign a couple of wingers before the transfer deadline, with Fiorentina’s Nico Gonzalez also on their radar alongside Sancho.
Discussions between United and Juventus are said to be ongoing, but whether a permanent deal for Sancho will be financially feasible for all parties remains unclear.
As the transfer window nears its close, the uncertainty surrounding Sancho’s future at Manchester United continues to be a topic of speculation.
Ten Hag’s comments suggest that the winger’s position in the team is far from guaranteed, and with interest from Juventus, a resolution may be forthcoming in the coming days.
