Manchester United are in a Juan Veron situation over expensive Red Devils star this summer

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Manchester United have a decision to make over in-demand winger Jadon Sancho, entering his third season.

Let’s cast back to 2001. Manchester United made a game-changing signing, bringing in Juan Sebastian Veron to add a new dimension to the club’s midfield.

Veron had his moments. A stunning debut against Everton, a goal against Arsenal at Old Trafford, a chipped pass for Diego Forlan at Chelsea, a free-kick against West Ham and a strike in a famous comeback against Tottenham. Not to mention a long range effort against Olympiakos.

But it never really felt like Veron hit the heights he was capable of. And just as he looked like he might be on the cusp of hitting his stride, Manchester United were presented with an offer the club felt was too good to refuse, and sold him to Chelsea in 2003.

This came shortly after Veron’s best pass in a United shirt, an impressive chip for Ruud van Nistelrooy in pre-season. But it was not to be. United felt it was time to cut the losses, and cash in on the majestically talented Argentine, feeling he just wasn’t the right fit, or quite what he was cracked up to be.

We will never know whether Veron could have become the player we wanted him to. The signs were there. It takes some players longer to settle. Personally, I was in favour of ‘one more season’, and felt United should have shown more patience.

The reason we are revisiting this, is because 20 years on, Manchester United are in another Juan Veron situation. This time over Jadon Sancho.

Jadon Sancho future dilemma

Jadon Sancho signed for Manchester United in 2021, amid similar hype, costing £73 million in comparison to Veron’s £28 million, which was expensive for the time.

Also arriving from a foreign club, it was envisioned that Sancho would take United’s attack to another level. It hasn’t quite worked out.

Sure, there have been a few individual highlights along the way. His goal away at Villarreal, another at Stamford Bridge, and a curler at the Etihad. This season he netted away at Tottenham too, while the highlight was his goal in the win over Liverpool at Old Trafford, a crucial first victory for Erik ten Hag.

But like Veron, despite these notable moments, there has been something missing. Similarly with the Argentine, there are questions over whether he quite fits the frenetic pace of the Premier League, and has the work rate and toughness required to dig in, to match the flair.

It appears that Manchester United might have a Veron-type decision to make this summer too, with interest building in Sancho.

Tottenham have registered interest in Sancho, report The Times, while Ben Jacobs tells the United Stand that both Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli have both sent scouts to watch the winger.

In a summer where United may have to sell in order to supplement the transfer budget, there is going to be a difficult decision to make over Sancho.

If an offer comes in for around £50 million, United may be tempted to take it, just like they were when Chelsea offered £16 million for Veron in 2003.

Notably, Veron was unsuccessful at Chelsea, later loaned out to Inter Milan, where he re-sparked his career in Serie A.

That doesn’t guarantee Sancho would flop elsewhere. He might go on to haunt United, and cause the club to regret selling him.

While Veron’s unhappy spell at Stamford Bridge may have caused United to view the decision as the right one financially, from a football perspective, there was plenty left to wonder if a third season would have seen him really kick on at Old Trafford.

This ‘what if’ scenario would be particularly apt for Sancho this summer. He could be sold, just as Manchester United ‘hopefully’ sign a top striker.

Sancho’s best spell at Borussia Dortmund came when he had Erling Haaland in front of him. At United this past season, he had Anthony Martial and Wout Weghorst to work with. Next season at Old Trafford he would be helped by better quality strikers in attack.

If he can’t make it work next season, United can still cash in. Perhaps for a lower price, but at least the club will know that they had tried everything, and given him enough time to try and make it work, instead of just cutting their losses after two disrupted seasons.

Whichever decision United make, you can understand it. If Erik ten Hag does not believe Sancho is the right profile for his squad, so be it. But it certainly looks like the club have a choice to make.