Rene Meulensteen has sent Manchester United a clear-cut message about Jadon Sancho amid uncertainty about the player’s long-term future under Erik ten Hag.
Jadon Sancho spent the second half of last season out on loan at Borussia Dortmund after his falling out with Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag had revealed why Sancho failed to make his United squad for the 3-1 Premier League defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates last September.
Sancho wasted no time in hitting back with a bombshell statement on social media before the United winger was excluded from the first team.
The 24-year-old United star enjoyed a successful six-month loan spell with Borussia Dortmund, including playing in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Sancho made his return to Old Trafford this summer and the United winger and Ten Hag have appeared to set aside their differences.
Meulensteen’s stance on Sancho
Jadon Sancho was part of Manchester United’s pre-season tour in the summer and played under Erik ten Hag after he was brought back into the first team.
The former England international is under contract with United until 2026 and has been linked with several clubs, including Borussia Dortmund and Juventus.
Sancho is reportedly earning £290,000 per week at Old Trafford and it is believed United are keen to recoup as much of a transfer fee as possible for the player.
United first brought the ex-Three Lions winger to the club in 2021 after the Red Devils splashed out a hefty £73m fee to sign him from Dortmund.
Speaking to the Metro, Rene Meulensteen has insisted that it would be in the best interest of all parties for Sancho to make his exit from Old Trafford.
“I think it’s best he moves on,” he said.
“If Jadon is not in Ten Hag’s plans, then you are creating another problem. It will be a constant question from the media.
“Jadon is a good player; we saw that again at Dortmund last season. But it went completely wrong at United.
“They do not need a repeat of that situation this season. It creates unnecessary noise around the club. You want a good, happy group playing for each other.
“The best thing for me is Jadon does move onto another club and United moves on without him.”
Sancho misses Fulham match
Sancho came off the bench and missed a penalty in the defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley earlier this month.
Despite playing in pre-season and in the Community Shield, the ex-Dortmund ace was left out of the first-team squad for the Premier League opener against Fulham.
Speaking after the 1-0 win at Old Trafford, Ten Hag revealed that Sancho had an “ear infection” and was “not 100 per cent fit” to feature for the Fulham match.
“First of all, we need squad depth and we need it this season to be survival of the fittest,” he said at his post-match press conference.
“I can only put 20 players in the squad, I have to make choices and, in the week, he had an ear infection but he was not 100 per cent fit.
“He could play but if we had the choices, we preferred to put other players on the bench but that will change in the season as we have to rotate because we can’t play so many games the same.
“You see how important the subs are and you see it is about balance. Sometimes it is frustrating [for] the team, the club and there will be more players in this position.
“We expect them to fight for the club, as we have so many games to play for the club. Everyone will get their minutes and then they have to prove it.”
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