The exiled winger has not played for the club since August (Pictures: Getty)
Erik ten Hag says Jadon Sancho can still have a future at Manchester United despite growing links with a move away in January, though he must apologise for their falling out.
The 23-year-old, who cost £73million, has not played for the Red Devils since August after hitting out at his manager on social media platform X following his omission from the matchday squad that lost to Arsenal at the start of September.
Sancho claimed he was being made a ‘scapegoat’ and rejected suggestions he was not training hard enough, with the winger exiled from the first-team squad over his public outburst.
Ten Hag is willing to reintegrate him but only if he publicly apologises, something Sancho has so far been unwilling to do.
With just a few weeks until the transfer window reopens, the winger has been increasingly linked with a move away – with clubs in Saudi Arabia thought to be particularly keen – but Ten Hag says there is a way back for Sancho at Old Trafford if he falls in line.
Asked if Sancho has to leave in the January window, Ten Hag replied: ‘So it is about a culture and every player has to match certain standards, and it was about that.
‘So what will happen there, he knows what he has to do if he wants to return. It is up to him.’
Sancho has so far refused to apologise to Ten Hag (Picture: Getty)
Asked if the current situation cannot continue, Ten Hag replied again: ‘He knows what he has to do. It’s up to him.’
Probed further on whether he felt his hardline stance was costing United money in the form of Sancho’s wages, Ten Hag replied: ‘I think that is an internal matter. We will see what will happen.’
Sancho was one of several players ex-United midfielder Nemanja Matic claimed was ‘always late’ to training in an interview this week – an issue that Alejandro Garnacho also struggled with when he first came into the first-team fold.
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Ten Hag feels it is a mark of Garnacho’s development and maturity that he overcame his timekeeping struggles, and perhaps offers an example to Sancho too.
‘I was aware there were some issues,’ said the Dutchman.
‘But these are young players that have to learn what is needed, the lifestyle of a professional footballer. But in the meantime he knows.’
United are next in action at home to Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Marcus Rashford a late doubt due to illness, before they then host Bayern Munich in a must-win Champions League clash.
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