Man Utd icon Rio Ferdinand delivers brutal truth to Jadon Sancho after row with Ten Hag

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes that Jadon Sancho has backed himself into a corner with Erik ten Hag. A public back-and-forth between the pair has risked seeing Sancho frozen out of the Red Devils’ squad, with Ferdinand suggesting that a move to Saudi Arabia may now be a realistic option.

Sancho was left out of the matchday squad on Sunday as Man Utd conceded two late goals in a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal. After the game, Ten Hag revealed that the winger had been left at home due to poor performances in training.

The comments were not well received by Sancho, who took to social media and instructed fans ‘not to believe everything they read’. “I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into,” he added. “I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair!”

Now, Ferdinand has given his take on the situation, with Sancho set for an uncertain reception when he reports to United’s Carrington training base on Monday.

“There’s no way Jadon is putting out a statement like that if he hasn’t in his own eyes performed well,” Ferdinand told his FIVE YouTube channel. “That’s the difference as well.

“On his part, Jadon [might think] – ‘I’ve trained alright’, but the manager might have a different standard. There’s two ways this ends. The Saudi window is still open. Or you’re on the bench or not getting in the squad for the rest of the season.”

Sancho scored 50 goals in 137 matches for Dortmund, becoming a full England international as a teenager. That level of output has dried up at United, however, and he has made only three substitute appearances in the Premier League this term.

The Red Devils now have a two-week international break to try and find a resolution between Sancho and Ten Hag. It remains to be seen whether the youngster will be back in contention when Brighton visit Old Trafford on September 16.