Jadon Sancho kieltäytyi Romasta ja Manchester United jää jumiin siirtofarssissa
At this point, Jadon Sancho’s career feels less like a clear path forward and more like a tangled knot Manchester United can’t quite undo. The winger, once tipped as one of English football’s brightest young stars, has turned down a move to AS Roma – a transfer United had quietly hoped would finally lift a weight off their shoulders.
Reports suggest the two clubs had already agreed on a deal worth around £20 million (about €23m). For United, it looked like progress: a clean break from a player who doesn’t figure in Rúben Amorim’s plans. But then came the snag. Sancho wasn’t satisfied with the salary on offer in Italy. Roma hoped to bring him in at a reduced wage, while Sancho expected more – and when neither side yielded, the deal collapsed.
A career stuck in a holding pattern
It’s a story fans have heard before. Sancho joined Old Trafford in 2021 for more than €80 million, arriving from Borussia Dortmund with all the promise of transforming United’s attack. Instead, he has become another reminder of how risky big-money signings can be when the fit isn’t right.
Last season did little to reverse the trend. A loan agreement with Chelsea included a clause that could have made the move permanent. But instead of exercising the option, Chelsea preferred to pay €5.7m in compensation to walk away. By summer, Sancho was back in Manchester. Back on a roster that Amorim would rather trim than build around.
What options remain?
With Roma off the table, Sancho’s representatives are still looking for an escape route before the window shuts. A few directions are being discussed:
- Saudi Arabia – a market where financial packages are enormous and salary demands rarely pose an obstacle.
- Premier League mid-table clubs – whispers of interest from teams like West Ham and Everton have surfaced.
- A Bundesliga return – Borussia Dortmund fans maintain affection for him, but the economics may be tricky.
At just 24, Sancho still craves competitive minutes and the chance to reclaim momentum. But his high wages and inconsistent recent form make for a complicated equation.
United’s headache
For Manchester United, the standoff is an ongoing frustration. Sancho’s contract consumes valuable budget space, yet he’s not part of Amorim’s vision. The longer he stays, the fewer resources United have to strengthen elsewhere.
It also exposes a broader truth: over the past decade, United have too often paid premium fees for players who failed to become the cornerstone figures they were meant to be. Each cycle ends in the same place – the club trying to claw back value from signings that never quite worked out.
The clock is ticking
The window won’t remain open for long. Decisions now will shape Sancho’s career and United’s squad building in the months to come. A well-chosen move could revive his trajectory. For United, shifting him would mean closing a costly and disappointing chapter.
But there’s a real risk here: if no resolution comes, Sancho could spend the season as one of the Premier League’s most expensive spectators. That scenario would be wasteful for all involved.
The question lingers: Does Sancho chase financial stability in Saudi Arabia, seek redemption in Germany, or gamble on another chance in the Premier League spotlight? Whatever happens, both player and club know time isn’t on their side.
