Jadon Sancho, once a rising star in world football, saw his career decline after joining Manchester United in 2021.
The English winger had left Manchester City at 17 to join Borussia Dortmund, where he dazzled the Bundesliga for four years. United paid £73 million to bring him back to the Premier League, but he failed to live up to expectations.
Sancho had a fallout with manager Erik ten Hag in September 2023 and was sidelined from the squad. He went back to Dortmund on loan in January until the end of the season, and his future at United is uncertain.
However, a former Chelsea scout has revealed that he had already spotted the flaws in Sancho’s game and decided not to sign him.
Chris Robinson, who was part of Chelsea’s scouting team for a decade, told Rising Ballers why he rejected the chance to sign the young talent.
“I saw Jadon Sancho when he was under-14s playing as a striker for Watford,” Robinson said.
“He was alright… You know, he was just ok.
“He signed for Manchester City almost straight after. We knew that City were interested, and he became a winger there and became the player he was at Borussia Dortmund, he was terrific wasn’t he.”
Robinson revealed that he also passed up opportunities to sign Dele Alli and Joe Gomez, who at the time were playing for MK Dons and Charlton Athletic respectively.
A return to Germany doesn’t appear to have sparked Sancho back into form.
The 23-year-old has contributed two assists and zero goals in 11 appearances for BVB this term.