Former Manchester United boss aims subtle dig after Jadon Sancho transfer

Ralf Rangnick says he had no issues with Jadon Sancho’s discipline while he was interim manager of Manchester United and has described him as a “pleasant” character.

Sancho played 21 games under the German, scoring and assisting three times apiece. That accounts for a quarter of all the goals he has scored for United since his £73m transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2021.

The 23-year-old is now back at Signal Iduna Park having completed a short loan move until the end of the season as his rift with Erik ten Hag continues. The United boss dropped Sancho from the squad to take on Arsenal in September due to substandard training levels.

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That led to the winger releasing a now-deleted social media tweet accusing his manager of lying about the reasons why he was axed, saying he had been “scapegoated for a long time”. He was consequently banished from first-team activity until an apology came forth, which never happened.

As a result, Sancho has not played since August although Dortmund boss Edin Terzic says he has managed to keep himself fit in the meantime. Rangnick says the player’s return to Germany makes “perfect sense” and believes the reason he has flopped at United is due where the club currently finds itself.

“He had his best time in Dortmund and, when he was healthy, he always played for me,” Rangnick told Sky Germany. “However, he wasn't as carefree as in Dortmund. But that was also due to the overall situation.

“When he was fit, he was set and did well under me. He no longer had a chance in Manchester. He now has to get back into a rhythm and really into shape in Dortmund. From his point of