Manchester United missed a glorious opportunity to sign a player who has since had a world-class trajectory for a pittance in the same summer they spent £73 million to sign Jadon Sancho.
Jadon Sancho will go down as the biggest transfer flop in Manchester United history.
The England international was guilty of lacking the professionalism and drive required to make it at a club like United. And, the fact he cost a whopping £73m reflects terribly on United’s previous approach to recruitment.
It gets even worse when you consider what could have been that summer had United spent their money more wisely.
Where did it all go wrong for Jadon Sancho? Is he the biggest Man Utd flop of ALL TIME?
It's finally official – Jadon Sancho is gone
Man Utd were asleep at the wheel when Crystal Palace signed Michael Olise
Michael Olise has established himself as one of the best wingers in world football for Bayern Munich, but he also received plenty of recognition for his performances at Crystal Palace that earned him a career-defining move.
The 24-year-old, who is currently starring at the 2026 World Cup, is among the best players in the world.
A genuine Ballon d’Or contender.
When United signed Sancho in 2021, Olise was available on the market as a promising winger after breaking through Reading’s academy.
In April 2021, Olise was crowned the EFL Young Player of the Season, which led to a Premier League move as Palace activated his £8.37 million release clause.
Olise made 73 appearances for Reading’s first team as an academy graduate, scoring seven goals and registering 14 assists.
To appreciate the winger’s trajectory, he scored 16 goals and recorded 25 assists in 90 matches for Palace. At Bayern Munich, the 26-year-old’s record is second to none, standing at 42 goals and 54 assists.
Compare that to Sancho, who was sent on loan three times by United before leaving as a free agent this summer; he managed 12 goals and six assists in 83 appearances across all competitions.
This is a clear sign that United’s recruitment team in 2021 was asleep at the wheel. The key figures responsible for that were Ed Woodward – before his departure – and John Murtough.
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Jadon Sancho searching for new club
Sancho’s departure from United was announced on June 10 along with the retained list.
That meant United were passing on the opportunity to trigger the one-year option on Sancho’s contract.
Sancho joins Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia as free agents after leaving Old Trafford this summer, but there has not been much speculation over the winger’s future.
After spending last season on loan at Aston Villa, Sancho was linked with another return to Borussia Dortmund.
That was before Dortmund ruled out a potential swoop for Sancho.
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