Erik ten Hag has told Jadon Sancho that it’s up to the player if he wants to salvage his Manchester United career by apologising over their fall-out.
Sancho seems almost certain to leave Old Trafford when the transfer window re-opens in January if United can find a club willing to buy their exiled star or take him on loan for the rest of the season.
The 23-year-old winger hasn’t played for three-and-a-half months since effectively branding Ten Hag a liar over his reasons for leaving Sancho out of the defeat at Arsenal in September.
He has been training on his own at Carrington on full pay after refusing to say sorry to Ten Hag, costing United around £4million in wages under the terms of his £275,000-a-week contract.
There has been interest from Juventus and the Saudi League, while his old club Borussia Dortmund have been linked with a swap deal for Donyell Malen.
Erik ten Hag told Jadon Sancho it is up to him if he wants to return to Man United’s first team
Sancho has been exiled at United since a public falling-out with Ten Hag in September
But Ten Hag indicated on Friday that there is still time for Sancho to stay at United if he is prepared to fall into line.
‘It is about a culture and every player has to match certain standards, and it was about that,’ said the United boss, who claimed in an interview this week that he has no regrets over his handling of the controversy.
‘What will happen there, he knows what he has to do if he wants to return. It is up to him.’ Asked if he thought the money spent on the player’s wages was a waste, Ten Hag replied: ‘I think that is an internal matter. We will see what will happen.’
Former United midfielder Nemanja Matic confirmed this week that Sancho and Paul Pogba were the worst offenders when it came to being late for training.
Ten Hag has tried to instil a more disciplined culture at the club, and took a hard line with Alejandro Garnacho last year over his timekeeping.
Ten Hag insisted Sancho must apologise but admitted there is a way back for him if he does so
He also discussed the hard line he took with Alejandro Garnacho last year over his timekeeping
‘I was aware there were some issues,’ added the Dutchman. ‘But these are young players that have to learn what is needed, the lifestyle of a professional footballer. But in the meantime he knows.’
More recently, Ten Hag has got tough with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, dropping them for Wednesday’s win over Chelsea following their abject displays in the defeat at Newcastle last weekend.
Rashford missed training through illness on Friday and is doubtful for Bournemouth’s visit to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile Ten Hag says United will look at triggering one-year contract extensions for Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal Mejbri, but will need Tottenham to agree to Sergio Reguilon remaining on loan at Old Trafford for the rest of the season.
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