Manchester City: What to do with Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho is one of the brightest players in Manchester City Academy. However, there have been reports that he is not happy. What should the club do?
There’s nothing better than supporting a club and watching one of the academy products come through and become a star. Manchester City are currently looking at a “big three” who are ready to break through and do just that. Jadon Sancho, Brahim Diaz, and Phil Foden are the three crown jewels of a loaded youth system. Guardiola featured Brahim and Foden in City’s preseason. Sancho, however, did not travel with the squad due to contract stipulations.
So who is Sancho? The enormously gifted winger won Golden Player of the European U-17’s championships, an honor previously won by the likes of Toni Kroos, Wayne Rooney, and Paul Pogba. He is amongst the best that England and City have to offer at the youth level. The issue is his contract runs out next year and he has yet to renew it. It is revealed that City have offered Sancho a new contract but he turned it down and has said goodbye to his teammates. Sam Lee of Goal.com is reporting that the youngster feels his path to the first team is blocked. He goes on to say City still remain hopeful that he will stay. Most troubling part is that Sancho has been skipping training to force his move.
Sancho is a personal favorite of mine when I watch City’s academy play. His game is similar to Neymar’s in his ability to hug the touchline and cut in and score. The way he loses his defenders and finish seems perfect for Pep’s team.
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The problem isn’t the money; in fact, City have offered him the biggest contract ever for a youth player. If the rumors are true of his inability to see a path to the first team then there is a deeper issue. We don’t want to be like Chelsea where we have bright prospects but they leave because there isn’t any youth integration. Sancho should be watching Brahim and Foden and realize that Pep gave them chances in areas of the pitch where City are deepest. If he doesn’t want to work with Guardiola and doubts his ability so much he can’t see himself cracking City’s first team, him leaving might be best for both sides.
The fact that he’s skipping training is the most worrisome part. Granted, he’s 17 years old but he’s expected to be professional at that young age. He could have people in his ears telling him different things and convincing him to leave. For a young kid to be this talented, he needs to drown out the noise and do whats best for his career. Skipping training and leaving the best coach on the planet is the farthest from what is best for his career.
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Sancho is a bright prospect and someone City should try to retain. However, he needs someone in his ear to make him realize the chance he has with City and Pep. If he doesn’t realize that Pep is the right manager for him then he needs to go. If he doesn’t realize that he is so good that he will eventually be given chances then he needs to go. Skipping training and burning bridges are very controversial, inexperienced thing to do. However, he needs to get his head straight if he wants to be a professional footballer. Sancho is undoubtedly talented. But if his problems continue, there is no other option but to let him go.