Former England star Kieron Dyer has shed light on a pivotal moment in Jadon Sancho’s early career at Manchester City, recalling a ‘red flag’ incident that hinted at challenges to come for the talented winger. Dyer, speaking on talkSPORT, reminisced about watching Sancho as a wonderkid in City’s youth ranks.
Jadon Sancho, once the talk of academies across England, rose through the ranks at Manchester City before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2017. His performances in Germany earned him a high-profile return to the Premier League with Manchester United in 2021, but the 23-year-old faced difficulties at Old Trafford.
Dyer, who observed Jadon Sancho during his youth days, shared his impressions of the winger’s early prowess.
“He was a wonderkid growing up. He was the talk of everybody in the academies at that time. I was coaching, and when I watched Man City, he was unstoppable.” Dyer said.
However, Dyer revealed a critical moment that raised concerns about Jadon Sancho’s mentality. He said,
“They played Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup final, and he played against Reece James. Reece James got the better of him, which can happen to anyone, but he quit on his team in the Youth Cup final.”
Youthful Promise and Challenges: The Turning Point for Jadon Sancho
Expressing his unease, Dyer noted that Jadon Sancho seemed mentally affected;
“He just mentally went, and I kind of had a red flag against him then and thought that’s bit weird. He’s got the world at his feet, and alright, he’s had a bad game, but he’s quit on his teammates.”
Despite Sancho’s return to Dortmund on loan after a challenging stint at Man-United, he expressed happiness at rejoining the club. He said,
“It’s so nice to be back. Dortmund is like a home to me. This is where my career as a professional footballer started. That was always my dream. I’m happy to be back here again.”
Dyer’s recollection offers a glimpse into Jadon Sancho’s early challenges and provides context for the player’s journey from promising wonderkid to navigating the complexities of top-tier football.
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