Why Man United should look to Arsenal and Chelsea for guidance on how to proceed with Jadon Sancho.
Jadon Sancho’s future at Manchester United is uncertain with the winger banned from first-team training, but the Old Trafford club could adopt a few historical precedents.
Sancho is not the first Premier League player to be disciplined by their club for speaking out of turn.
History suggests, however, that Sancho’s return to Old Trafford will be challenging. Diego Costa was unquestionably one of the most volatile players in Premier League history, and his time at Chelsea ended dramatically.
In 2017 during Antonio Conte’s first season in command of Chelsea, the forward scored 20 goals to help the club win the league championship.
But there were indications that the relationship between Costa and Conte was strained as the striker was banished from team training following a blazing dispute midway through the campaign.
Costa desired a transfer to the Chinese Super League, but Conte was unwilling to let the striker go.
A few weeks later, the Brazilian-born footballer returned to the club, but the summer brought worse news.
According to reports, Conte informed Costa via text message that he was not wanted and Costa was expelled from the Chelsea team prior to the 2017/18 season.
He was ultimately able to force a transfer back to Atletico Madrid, putting an end to the ugly saga.
The international from Gabon had several run-ins with Arteta prior to his final ‘disciplinary violation’ in December 2021, which was the final straw.
Aubameyang was stripped of his captaincy and barred from training with the first team after returning late from a trip to France to transport his ailing mother to England.
He never played for the club again because Arteta stood his ground before trading the forward to Barcelona in the January transfer window.
Ten Hag does not appear to have slammed the door in Sancho’s face upon his eventual return from the weather. However, the 23-year-old confronts an uphill battle to win over United’s manager.
Why Man United should look to Arsenal and Chelsea for guidance on how to proceed with Jadon Sancho.