Jadon Sancho: Rio Ferdinand says winger will only return to Manchester United if Erik ten Hag leaves club

TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand believes there is no way back for Jadon Sancho at Manchester United - unless Erik ten Hag leaves his position as manager.

The England international is currently playing for Borussia Dortmund on loan, having joined the club in January.

That came after a high-profile falling out with the Red Devils boss, with the 24-year-old last featuring for the club in August.

Some supporters have called for the winger to be given a second chance at Old Trafford, but Ferdinand thinks that is unlikely under the current regime.

"I think the only way he goes back to Manchester United is if Erik ten Hag is not there," he told TNT Sports.

"I don't think from a disciplinary situation stand point, they can't really undermine the manager. Without an apology, the way that the manager's asked for it, unless they change it, or add a little bit of nuance to it, I don't think they will undermine the manager in that way.

"I think the manager has to be gone and out the building for Jadon Sancho to come back to Manchester United."

The 24-year-old has begun to find his form since returning to Germany, and played a starring role in their 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Speaking of that performance, Ferdinand added: "He had the most dribbles of any player in the knock-out stages in the Champions this year. It shows you he's in good form.

"He needs to follow it up with another performance of that type. Then he really puts pressure on Manchester United. The people at Manchester United, behind the scenes, will be asking questions, Ineos, 'why has that performance not been in a red shirt?'

"If he follows it up with a lacklustre performance, that will answer a lot of the questions, but if he follows it up with another really solid performance, with good output, there will be people going 'how do I answer this question?'"

Sancho himself admits "I really don't know" where he will be playing his football next season.

But TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves believes the winger "should be excited" about returning to United next season.

He has not quite found his best form since moving to Old Trafford from Dortmund in 2021.

Hargreaves, though, says he could be part of a new revolution of young talent at the club.

"He's a Manchester United player," he said. "He's got a contract there. If you compare him with [Rasmus] Hojlund, Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, there's potential to grow something really big.

"Grow these young players in to something special. They're a couple of years behind the big teams. Jadon could be a part of that, and I think he should be excited to be a part, a Manchester United player, to show it in a red shirt."

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