Sancho ‘disrespect’ to Ten Hag ‘would never happen under Fergie’ claims ex-Man Utd star

Suraj Radia

• 11 Jan 2024 17:08 GMT
• 3 min read

Erik ten Hag was justified in exiling Jadon Sancho according to former Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov, who believes the winger ‘showed disrespect’ to his manager.

Sancho has returned to Dortmund on loan until the end of the season, having not featured for United since August after falling out with Ten Hag and criticising him on social media.

The 23-year-old has been training on his own since the dispute, having refused to apologise to Ten Hag for his behaviour, which led to United being willing to cover a portion of his wages to get him out of the club.

Berbatov spent four years at Old Trafford between 2008 and 2012 and believes Sancho would not have acted the same way under Sir Alex Ferguson, with Ten Hag still establishing his authority on his team.

“When you complain and make that public in the case of Sancho, you show a bit of disrespect towards the manager. Of course the manager will take a drastic decision and punish you in a way,” Berbatov told Mail Sport.

“If Sir Alex was here still, Sancho, was he going to do what he's done now? I don't think so. He will never allow himself to do something like this.”

Sancho’s decline from wonderkid to unwanted flop

Sancho made his professional breakthrough at Dortmund after joining them from Manchester City’s academy in 2017 for £8million, scoring 50 times in 137 games for the Bundesliga giants.

His form in Germany led to interest back in England and United felt they had pulled off a coup when they signed him for £73m in 2021, however he failed to live up to his potential during his time at the club, scoring just nine times in 58 Premier League games.

Having only made 21 starts in the league last season, Sancho’s inconsistent displays led to him being dropped by Ten Hag to start the new campaign and he played just 77 minutes of football before his bust up with the Dutchman.

“Ten Hag obviously like things to happen his way, and he showed that with the Cristiano Ronaldo situation, so he obviously likes discipline,” Berbatov said.

“And when Sancho has done something to offend maybe or not been part of that discipline, of course the manager is going to say something or maybe suspend you from the team.”