Sancho reportedly told Rashford to tell Ed Woodward to get deal done last summer

Add as preferred source on Google

Jadon Sancho’s transfer to Manchester United was finally announced this week after a never ending wait.

United fans really hoped the deal would get done in 2020, and so it seems did Sancho.

A report in The Athletic says Sancho gave new teammate and close pal Marcus Rashford a nudge, asking him to tell Ed Woodward to get a move on.

The report read: “Last summer, amid the deadlock, Sancho jokingly pushed Rashford, “Can you ask Ed to pay the money please?”

There was no success, with Woodward and United’s negotiating team bungling discussions with Dortmund as the deal fell apart.

Sancho was left disappointed, and this was reflected in his slow start to the season for Dortmund.

CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told German magazine Kicker in January: “Subconsciously, Jadon had probably already prepared a little for a change. I think he had at least thought so much about it that he lost his ease.”

Sancho regained his form and ended the season with 16 goals and 19 assists. Four goals and two assists came in his last four games.

Got there in the end

The Athletic report Sancho has been house hunting in Manchester since May and has been looking forward to his move.

Staying at Dortmund an extra year wasn’t necessarily bad for him, because he has picked up valuable experience, including managing to overcome a lull in form at the start.

He also ended the season with a trophy, winning the German Cup final, and this experience will help him at United as the team searches for difference makers who can lead the club to silverware.

Of course we would rather United had paid up for Sancho last summer and he ended this season winning a trophy. But we are where we are now, and a move for Amad was a bonus we might not have got if we landed Sancho in 2020.

Rashford no doubt deserves some praise for helping to smooth Sancho’s deal along. Behind the scenes he was surely an important factor.

United finally got their act together in 2021, and Sancho deserves some credit for his patience too. His determination to move to United, and not entertain other bids, has saved the club’s blushes.

• Brazilian press react to Casemiro and Matheus Cunha in Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco, mixed fortunes
• Moroccan press react to Noussair Mazraoui performance for Morocco vs Brazil
• How Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Noussair Mazraoui fared during Brazil vs Morocco
• Kobbie Mainoo will be relishing Ruben Amorim clash as reunion now becomes real possibility
• Tyler Fletcher is learning Scott McTominay’s biggest strength during World Cup training
• Man Utd admire Premier League star who was labelled the next Rio Ferdinand amid contract dispute
• Kobbie Mainoo and Leny Yoro in agreement over Man Utd ‘one to watch’ next season
• Forget Tchouameni, Man Utd must raid Real Madrid for an era defining market opportunity
• Not only Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic has become really ‘close’ with one other former Man Utd teammate
• Fabrizio Romano shares what Man Utd are now trying to do in Mateus Fernandes transfer negotiations