Jadon Sancho’s recent social media comment has sparked a heated debate about the atmosphere at Manchester United.
After Marcus Rashford made his debut for Aston Villa, Sancho posted a one-word comment, “freedom,” which many interpreted as a swipe at his former club. This reaction highlights the perceived “toxicity” at Old Trafford, according to former United goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Rashford had been frozen out by Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim and hadn’t played for nearly two months before joining Villa on loan. His departure was facilitated by Amorim’s decision not to include him in the team due to differences in training and playing style.
Similarly, Sancho fell out of favor with Erik ten Hag last season and spent time on loan with Borussia Dortmund before moving to Chelsea this summer. Sancho’s comment has been criticized by many, including Foster, who believes it reflects poorly on both Sancho and Manchester United.
“It just reeks of toxicity at United,” Foster said during his podcast Ben Foster – The Cycling GK.
“It reeks of an unhappy place to be, that everybody’s buzzing for someone to get out [of the club]”.
Rashford himself did not publicly respond but is reportedly unimpressed by Sancho’s dig. Sources close to Rashford indicate that he wants to maintain good relations with Manchester United and its fans. Unlike Sancho, whose move away from Old Trafford seems permanent due to Chelsea’s obligation-to-buy clause, Rashford could potentially return if he regains form while on loan at Villa. The situation highlights broader issues within Manchester United regarding player satisfaction and management dynamics.
Both players faced criticism over their attitudes in training under different managers—Sancho under Ten Hag and Rashford under Amorim—which ultimately led them away from Old Trafford temporarily or permanently.