11 months ago
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Jadon Sancho has rejoined Borussia Dortmund on loan just two and a half years after his blockbuster transfer to Manchester United.
Old Trafford was certainly a rosier scene in the summer of 2021 with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the wheel.
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United had just finished second in the Premier League and a big summer was planned - with some big names on the way.
But it could be argued that what looked like a glorious window was in fact one of the worst.
Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund to Man United)
To kickstart the window, Sancho made a long-awaited arrival at the club after a pursuit that had gone on for more than 12 months.
On 23 July, the England international signed for £73million, penning a five-year contract with an option of a further year worth near £300,000 a week.
The move was heralded as one of the most exciting transfers at Old Trafford for years - a zippy, tricky winger who could score and be the next generational star for club and country.
Fast-forward 30 months and Sancho is returning to Dortmund having fallen out with manager Erik ten Hag.
And while sides can be picked over who is in the right, the cold fact is that Sancho has been nowhere near good enough for United.
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In 82 appearances in all competitions, he has scored just 12 - nine of those coming in the Premier League.
The smile has returned now he is back in Germany at 'home' as he called it in his first interview since escaping Manchester.
Tony Cascarino insists Jadon Sancho only has himself to blame in feud with Erik ten Hag after Dortmund move nears completion
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid to Man United)
Three weeks after the signing of Sancho, United made their second blockbuster arrival in Raphael Varane, a surprise transfer from Real Madrid.
The France defender was coming off the back of winning three successive Champions Leagues and was heralded as a major coup to bring some much-needed experience to the dressing room.
United had actually tried to sign him in 2011, but Real was too big to turn down.
Injuries have not helped him and this season has found himself behind Jonny Evans in the starting XI.
While Ten Hag has attempted to quash reports of any issues between player and coach, it is reported that Varane will leave in the summer.
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Ten Hag says he is talking to Varane about his future, but it looks like he will be off in the summer following a move that promised so much.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus to Man United)
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to United - 12 years after leaving for Real Madrid - in a move that made fans' mouths water as they looked to battle for the Premier League and Champions League.
But the bigger the star, the bigger the fall - and there might be no bigger decline than Ronaldo's after an explosive exit that left a wake of destruction across his 18 months at the club.
After failing to impress before blaming his teammates and manager to Piers Morgan, his contract was ripped up and he moved to Saudi Arabia - not what United executives imagined when he arrived.
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Tom Heaton (Aston Villa to Man United)
After being released by Aston Villa in 2021, United took up the chance to bring back a goalkeeper who came through the club's academy.
While Heaton has yet to make a league appearance for the Red Devils - across both spells - he was only brought back to be third-choice goalkeeper.
He has also been a help around the dressing room, speaking to the younger players settle in to the camp.
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Paul McShane (Rochdale to Man United)
Here was an arrival that brought some good.
McShane had played for the club's academy and when signed, went straight into the reserves where he was one of three players allowed over the age of 23.
He only continued his playing career for one year as a player-coach before retiring and becoming full-time role as the club's Professional Development Phase coach.
But McShane and Heaton aside, this was supposed to be a transfer window that took United back to the very top - an exciting wonderkid with the world at his feet, the defensive rock with a gleaming trophy cabinet and one of the best players of all time.
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Solskjaer had helped the club to second the season before in a remarkable achievement considering the problems they had, just months later and he was sacked after an abysmal start to the campaign.
Ralf Rangnick was brought in but United capitulated and finished sixth with the lowest points tally they have ever had in the Premier League era.
He may have hit the nail on the head when he said the club required 'open heart surgery'.
Ten Hag arrested the slump in his debut season last year, winning the Carabao Cup and taking United back into the Champions League.
But the cracks were merely papered over with the Red Devils crashing out of Europe at the group stage and struggling to finish in a Europa Conference League spot - let alone the Champions League - and the cycle continues.
