Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has labelled Jadon Sancho as the 'most disappointing signing in the club's history' following the winger's underwhelming spell at Old Trafford.
Saha's Verdict on Sancho
Saha, speaking to BetVictor, expressed his disappointment with Sancho, who joined United from Borussia Dortmund for £73 million in 2021. Despite arriving with a stellar reputation, Sancho managed just 12 goals in 83 appearances before being loaned out to Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and Aston Villa. He remains under contract until the summer but is expected to leave permanently.
'I think Jadon Sancho is the most disappointing signing in Manchester United history,' Saha said. 'That's because of the level he had shown at Borussia Dortmund before joining, he showed so much promise because he is an enormous talent. It felt like a mystery. I'm not sure what happened but he didn't get anywhere near his best and I think he needs a fresh start like Marcus Rashford.'
Saha, who played for United from 2004 to 2008, lamented the wasted potential. 'I was really privileged to be a football player and I was injured a lot and I wish I could have played the amount of games that Sancho has played at his age and with his talent. I would have really loved him to thrive at Old Trafford because he can do everything. He can do amazing things and so it's a pity to see all those games wasted.'
United's Costly Transfers
Sancho is one of several big-money signings that have failed to deliver at United since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. The club's five most expensive signings are:
- Paul Pogba: £89 million from Juventus
- Antony: £82 million from Ajax
- Harry Maguire: £75 million from Leicester City
- Romelu Lukaku: £75 million from Everton
- Jadon Sancho: £73 million from Borussia Dortmund
All have struggled to justify their price tags, but Saha believes Sancho stands out as the biggest disappointment given his prior form in Germany.
Sancho's Future
Aston Villa have decided not to make Sancho's loan permanent, but Borussia Dortmund remain interested in re-signing the 26-year-old. Meanwhile, Manchester United secured Champions League qualification with a thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool, all but guaranteeing third place in the Premier League.
Title Hopes for Next Season
Saha is optimistic about United's prospects under current management. 'They should be competing for the title next season,' he said. 'They are performing at a higher level than the results across the entire season have shown. If you look at the recent run, you could argue they should have at least 10 more points and could have been in the title race. Next season, with more stability, and two or three key players joining the core group of players we retain, I think we can aim higher. We need to go further in the cups and be competing for the Champions League knockout places. There is definitely more realistic hope.'
