Jadon Sancho hit a new low with an astonishing cameo from the bench in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-0 win against Freiburg on Friday night after returning from a brief injury spell. The Manchester United flop produced a display of lack of clinical finishing that Erik ten Hag has grown all too familiar with at Old Trafford.
Sancho has actually enjoyed a relatively positive start to his second stint at Dortmund, making three appearances before the late substitute appearance against Freiburg.
The 23-year-old provided an assist from the bench against Darmstadt 98 on his second debut, his first appearance since August following a four-month banishment at United.
He then started back-to-back games in wins over 1.FC Koln and VfL Bochum, winning a penalty against the former.
Sancho missed the 0-0 draw away at Heidenheim through a muscle injury but replaced Marco Reus to make his instant comeback on Friday night.
But the £73million flop produced an unbelievable cameo, missing three big chances in just seven minutes on the pitch.
The worst squandered opportunity fell in the second minute of stoppage time when Julian Brandt found him unmarked with a cross to the back post from the right wing.
However, Sancho’s left-footed effort before an open goal could only loop into goalkeeper Noah Atubolu’s hands as he wore a frustrated look on his face in response.
The United No. 25’s future at Old Trafford remains unclear and could rest on whether Ten Hag continues as manager in the first full season of the INEOS overhaul.
Sancho represents a player of value in the transfer market, and there will be hope that he can put himself in the shop window while he’s back in Germany.
But a permanent stay at Dortmund is unlikely, according to Black and Yellows boss Edin Terzic.
“Unfortunately for both players [Ian Maatsen and Jadon Sancho], neither option was really realistic,” Terzic told Sky Sports Germany.
“If you know what we got for Jadon Sancho two and a half years ago, then you know also that it might now be very, very difficult.
“We naturally advocated for an option with him – and also with Ian – but the negotiating position was not such that we could implement it, and so we will accept it for now.”
If he can overcome his latest setback and continue in the vein he started at the Westfalenstadion, though, he could be in line for a second chance to become a success at United.
