“That hasn’t really come out before”: Solskjaer reveals hidden reason behind United star’s tragic slump

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has disclosed a previously unreported reason behind Jadon Sancho’s woes at the club. Sancho’s struggles Sancho signed for United in the summer of 2021 from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £73m. He joined the club to much fanfare and expectations following an extremely successful stint in Germany, where he cemented his status as one of the best talents in European football. However, Sancho failed to deliver the same impact at United. He appeared to struggle with the switch to Premier League football and was never able to replicate the fine form he demonstrated at Dortmund. Over his three-and-a-half years as a United player (before loans), Sancho made 82 appearances across all competitions, scoring a mere 12 goals and providing an additional six assists. He had a bitter pubic falling out with Erik ten Hag, prompting United to send him back to Dortmund for six months in January 2024. Dortmund elected not to sign him permanently. He then moved to Chelsea, where he spent the entire 2023/24 campaign. The England international did not pull up any trees at Stamford Bridge and the Blues made the decision to send him back to Old Trafford. Currently at Aston Villa, his fortunes have yet to improve. It has been an underwhelming start to life at Villa Park and reports have surfaced that United are willing to let him leave on a free in the summer when his contract expires. United have the option of extending his stay by an additional 12 months and protecting his value but there is no desire to do so as it stands. Speaking on The Overlap,  Solskjaer attributed Sancho’s initial struggles at United to an ear infection, a setback from which the forward never fully bounced back. Solskjaer opens up on Sancho’s struggles The Norwegian said, “We wanted to take the next step, not move away from what we had, but add something different.” “In the final third, we wanted players who could break teams down, and Jadon, with his skill, link-up play, and little passes around the box, gave us that.” “He was unlucky, though. Before he joined, he went on holiday, as you do, and ended up getting an ear infection. He was in hospital and really struggled for his first 10 days or so before he could even start training with us. That hasn’t really come out before.” “So, yeah, I never really got to play with him properly, because by the time he was finding form again, I was already on my way out.” Solskjaer also spoke about Marcus Rashford, who appears to have rediscovered himself at Barcelona after a difficult past few months at United. “I’ve not spoken to Marcus since I’ve left, I text him a little bit but circumstances. I don’t know what’s happened in his life but you can see he’s certainly enjoying it now in Barcelona.” “It looked like he didn’t enjoy himself here. I don’t think that’s just Man United, it’s everywhere. All the pressures, every single one is different, we don’t know what’s happened to the players when they walk in in the morning grumpy, that’s the manager’s job: ‘What’s up? I can see something’s wrong.’” “We don’t know what’s happened, we just want him to do well. He’s an incredible player when he’s in in form and happy, he’s got that energy.” “I go back to Erling Haaland, just the energy that he shows all the time, when he’s on the pitch, he shows that enthusiasm and energy, that’s the least. But what is it? Life? Too many games? We don’t know but he’s found the right balance.” Featured image Eddie Keogh via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!