Dimitar Berbatov believes Jadon Sancho will not play for Manchester United again while Erik ten Hag is manager.
The English winger returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan earlier this month and has hit the ground running for his former club.
Sancho has recorded two assists in his two appearances for Dortmund since re-joining the Bundesliga outfit, with the latest coming against FC Koln on Saturday.
Baller. pic.twitter.com/vd1pP3jiqv
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) January 21, 2024
Dortmund are trying to ease Sancho back into competitive action after being frozen out of the Manchester United squad in recent months.
However, Sancho has made a strong impression since his return.
But Berbatov is not convinced Sancho will ever play for United again while Ten Hag is in the dugout.
“Jadon Sancho came on for Dortmund and got an assist, which is a great way to return to his old club. This is how football can work out sometimes,” Berbatov told Betfair, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“You can be really good in one league or in a different country, then go to the English Premier League and it just doesn’t work out for you. Dortmund is a good move for Sancho because he’s returned to familiar surroundings with friends around him.
“He’s made a good start with them and it’ll be great if he goes back to his previous form. But if you’re asking me if that’ll get him back in Ten Hag’s good books, I don’t think so.
“I only see Sancho playing for Man United again if the manager changes. If Sancho does well at Dortmund, he should be in contention for a place at Euro 2024.”
Berbatov added: “He’s a talent. He has all the attributes to score and assist and that’s why, hopefully, with the familiar surroundings he’s returned to it will give him the confidence and peace that he needs to start producing again. Then he’ll be able to show Gareth Southgate that he’s ready and that he can help the national team.
“The Euros will be on every player’s mind. It’s probably one of the reasons he’s left Man United and gone back to Dortmund. I’ve been in Jadon’s situation before and all he needs is a run of games to get his confidence back and he’ll start to feel reborn.
“Sancho does need to be careful though because going back to a place you know doesn’t always guarantee success.”
Jadon Sancho told to step away from penalty spot vs FC Koln
Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug took a penalty kick for Dortmund at the weekend, but admitted after the match that Sancho was desperate to take it.
Fullkrug said (via talkSPORT): “He asked me if it was okay if he shot. I then said: ‘No, I’ll do it today.’ Then he jumped right into it and said: ‘All right, hit it. Thank you for giving me the assist.’
“Normally I’m at the top with Marco (Reus) and Emre (Can). Jadon would definitely have converted it too. He really wanted to score his first goal for BVB again . That’s coming next week.”
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