Jadon Sancho's 'removal from Man United WhatsApp', spat with boss, Marcus Rashford furore

Jadon Sancho was once the golden boy of English football – a player with dazzling skills, fearless confidence, and a keen eye for goal.

However, in recent years, his star has faded, and he now makes headlines more for off-field drama than on-pitch brilliance. For someone who finished as runner-up in the 2019 Golden Boy award while at Dortmund and appeared to be on a trajectory towards greatness akin to team-mates Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, his fall from grace has been stark.

His move to Manchester United in 2021, which was supposed to catapult his career, quickly turned into a nightmare, marred by poor form, personal issues, and a bitter feud that eventually led to his exile. His stint at Chelsea hasn't fared much better, with flashes of his former undeniable talent now drowned in mediocrity and overshadowed by repeated digs at his former club. Here, MEN examines where it all went wrong for Sancho.

The excitement surrounding Sancho following his £73million transfer to United from Dortmund in 2021 was palpable. He had netted 36 goals in his last two seasons at the Westfalenstadion, and naturally, the Red Devils had high expectations.

However, a noxious mix of poor form, club instability, and personal issues hindered his progress from the start. Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's management, United finished second in 2020/21 but had slipped to seventh by the time the Norwegian was dismissed just months after Sancho's arrival.

The deadline-day signing of Cristiano Ronaldo didn't help matters either. The Portuguese superstar was a constant fixture as United's No. 9, leading to fierce competition for the remaining two spots in the front three. Sancho was forced to jostle for position with the likes of Marcus Rashford,