Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho made a special request to Borussia Dortmund and the Bundesliga club delivered on their promise after his return to Germany.
Sancho is set to spend the remainder of the current campaign back at Dortmund after United agreed a loan deal with the German side.
The 23-year-old United winger burst onto the scene at Dortmund after he left Manchester City’s youth academy and made a name for himself during his first spell at the club.
However, Sancho left Dortmund in 2021 and completed a blockbuster move to Old Trafford in a £73m deal, with high expectations placed on his shoulders at the time.
However, the former England international has returned to Dortmund after he was frozen out of the United first team over his falling out with manager Erik ten Hag.
Dortmund have agreed to a £3m loan fee for Sancho and will pay United a further £3.4m if certain add-ons are met, including the club’s qualification for the Champions League.
Sancho hasn’t played for United since last August after he called out United boss Ten Hag, with Dortmund covering a majority of his wages while out on loan at the club.
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Sancho’s request to Dortmund
Sancho wore the No 7 shirt during his senior appearances at Dortmund, with the ex-Three Lions winger taking on the No 25 shirt when he arrived at Old Trafford.
However, Sancho will now wear the No 10 shirt for his second spell at Dortmund due to Giovanni Reyna currently wearing the No 7 shirt at the German side.
Speaking to Dortmund’s official media, the United loanee opened up about his opportunity to play in an “iconic number” and talked up Brazil legend Ronaldinho.
Sancho asked Dortmund to “reserve” the shirt number as a special request and the club delivered on their promise to the former England star.
“Yeah, it’s an iconic number. Growing up 10 was always my favourite number due to Ronaldinho,” he said in a video posted on Dortmund’s YouTube channel.
“Obviously me watching his YouTube clips. So, you know, when Dortmund said 10 is available, I didn’t second guess.
“I just said, ‘Yes, please, if you could reserve it for me, that would be perfect.’”
Sancho saga at United is over for now
Sancho’s departure from Old Trafford on loan removes one lingering black cloud over Ten Hag’s head at United in the current Premier League campaign.
It remains to be seen what happens when Sancho’s loan deal comes to an end in the summer, but the news of his long-awaited move was warmly welcomed by fans.
Sancho’s long-term future at Old Trafford remains cast in doubt, but his transfer value has fallen significantly and the club will want to recoup as much money as they can.
The United outcast appears to be happy with a return to Dortmund and Sancho will no doubt secure regular first-team minutes at the Bundesliga outfit.
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