Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has explained why Jadon Sancho’s highly anticipated move to Old Trafford ended in disappointment, attributing it to a breakdown in communication between the player and the coaching staff.
Sancho, who joined United in 2021 for £73 million after a stellar four-year spell at Borussia Dortmund, never quite found his footing in Manchester.
According to McCarthy, the coaching team under Erik ten Hag struggled to connect with the winger, which played a major role in his inability to thrive.
Speaking on the On The Whistle podcast, McCarthy described Sancho as an “exceptional talent” but highlighted the forward’s quiet nature as a challenge.
“Jadon is a very quiet guy. He comes in, does his job, but there’s very little communication,” McCarthy revealed. “No one knew much about him, and that lack of understanding contributed to his struggles.”
Tensions between Sancho and Ten Hag reached a boiling point last season when the manager publicly criticised the player’s training performances, leading to a social media outburst from the England international.
Sancho accused the club of making him a “scapegoat,” which further strained his relationship with the coaching team and led to his exclusion from the squad.
McCarthy also suggested that Sancho’s difficulties at United might have been compounded by homesickness, revealing that the London-born winger would often sneak off to the capital to be closer to his roots.
“Jadon missed home and would travel to London quite a lot,” McCarthy said. “Being away from his family and the London culture may have affected him more than people realised.”
Despite a brief loan spell back at Dortmund in January, Sancho couldn’t rediscover the form that made him a standout player in Germany.
This summer, he joined Chelsea on loan, with the potential for a permanent move, and has made a promising start under new manager Enzo Maresca.
McCarthy believes that being closer to home and having a fresh start at Chelsea could help Sancho unlock his full potential.
“Now he’s in London, surrounded by family and familiar surroundings, I think he could find his magic again,” McCarthy said. “He’s an incredible footballer, and it would be great to see him flourish once more.”
Sancho’s journey has been turbulent, but McCarthy remains hopeful that, in the right environment, the Englishman can thrive.
Feature image Richard Heathcote via Getty Images
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