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‘Put Jadon Sancho in an Arsenal shirt and he’s a different player’ – England star still struggling to settle at ‘unhappy club’ Manchester United
Jason Cundy believes Jadon Sancho would be a better player if he was playing for Arsenal, not Manchester United - suggesting the bad vibes around Old Trafford are bringing their players down.
The winger arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2021 for a fee worth £73million and with the reputation of being one of the world's most exciting talents.
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However since joining the Red Devils, Sancho has struggled to show his full potential.
Scoring 16 goals and getting 20 assists in his last season in Dortmund, Sancho managed just five goals and three assists last term for the Premier League giants.
His lack of form has also seen him go from England starter to being dropped from Gareth Southgate's squad, with his World Cup hopes seemingly gone.
While the 22-year-old has managed three goals this term, the winger was substituted at half-time in United's 3-2 victory against Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League after a frustrating 45 minutes.
Erik ten Hag explained the reason for hauling Sancho and left-back Tyrell Malacia off at the break, blaming the lack of width on the left flank.
He said: "It was the movement with our ball, the width on the left side, for me was no good first-half.
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"The movement from behind the defending line, so I hoped with Luke [Shaw] and Marcus [Rashford] we could get more effect from that and in my opinion that happens."
Speaking on the Sports Bar, Cundy believes Sancho isn't able to thrive in the system at Old Trafford.
He's not the only United star to be struggling right now, though, and the talkSPORT host admits the sullen mood at the club doesn't help get the best out of their players - and the shackles would be off if they joined a happier environment.
Responding to claims that the winger looked 'miles off' in the Europa League clash, Cundy said: "Yes, he is.
"Right now he’s not the player they thought he was going to be, but he’s still young, we’re not talking about a player’s career being over.
"He’s struggled to settle, it’s a massive club, huge transfer fee, it hasn’t happened for him yet.
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"Man United have to be patient, there’s a lot going on at United.
"If you put him in Arsenal right now, who are a side who are completely different to what they were 12 months ago, if you put Sancho in an Arsenal side I think you’d see a different Sancho.
"He’s had a change of manager. It’s not been a happy club, they’re not playing well, it’s a lot to deal with personally."
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