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Tom OlverPublished Jan 22, 2024, 12:22pm|Updated Jan 22, 2024, 12:24pm
Jadon Sancho says Marco Reus tried to persuade him to return to Borussia Dortmund from Manchester United shortly after the two sides met in pre-season in Las Vegas last summer.
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Frozen out by Erik ten Hag at United, Sancho put pen to paper on a loan deal with Dortmund earlier this month – just two-and-a-half years after moving in the opposite direction to Old Trafford for a fee of around £73million.
A precocious Sancho took the Bundesliga by storm in his first spell at BVB and the 23-year-old enjoyed a glorious return against Darmstadt 98, coming off the bench to assist Reus in a 3-0 victory at the Merck-Stadion am Bollenfalltor.
The England international went on to play 66 minutes of the side’s thumping 4-0 win away to Cologne at the weekend, in which he and Niclas Fullkrug were involved in an awkward exchange over penalty duties.
But it appears a rejuvenated Sancho is relishing being back in Germany after finding himself banished from United’s first-team for so long and there has been speculation the forward could extend his stay beyond the summer – though BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl has played down these rumours.
Speaking to Dortmund’s in-house YouTube channel, the winger revealed how he had remained in close contact with many of his team-mates during his struggles in Manchester.
‘Ever since I’ve departed BVB I’ve always kept in touch with all the players here and always watching the games,’ Sancho explained.
‘BVB will always be a part of my life so no matter what I do in my future, BVB will always have a soft spot in my heart.’
Last July, Sancho got the chance to face Dortmund as United lost 3-2 to the Bundesliga giants in an entertaining pre-season clash at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
Sancho and Reus were pictured embracing as they were reunited shortly after the final whistle and the Englishman lifted the lid on his team-mate’s not-so-subtle attempts to lure him back to Germany.
Asked which players he has kept in contact with at Dortmund, Sancho replied: ‘It’s probably mainly Marco and obviously Jamie [Bynoe-Gittens].
‘Obviously me and Jamie are from London so we stay in contact.
‘That Vegas clip that you see, he was telling me to come back to Dortmund. That’s inside information. He was telling me: “Whenever you’re ready bro, I’m here!”
‘I’ve always had it in my mind, if it didn’t work out somewhere, BVB is always somewhere I know and everyone knows me inside out.
‘It’s good to know that the club and also the players back me.’
Sancho is adamant Dortmund should be aiming for a top-two finish in the Bundesliga as a ‘minimum’ this season and views his second stint at the club as a ‘new chapter’ in his career.
‘Year after year we should be qualifying for the Champions League, 100 per cent,’ the England attacker added.
‘That’s going to change, we’re not going to sit fifth for long. We’re definitely going to win more games.
‘Top two, minimum. That’s where Dortmund should be. That’s where I visualise Dortmund.
‘I think you could see it’s a new start, a new chapter [for me]. I don’t think I’ve changed as a player. I feel like I still have the same qualities that I left here with.
‘But it’s the connection, having the connection with the team-mates is really important for me so I understand how people play and what they want, especially service-wise and getting that understanding.’
Sancho is ‘thankful’ he got the opportunity to train and play alongside one of his ‘role models’ growing up in Cristiano Ronaldo at United.
‘He’s a great professional and one of my role models growing up,’ he went on.
‘I love his mentality and I think for every young player there at that time when he was there, we definitely learned that to be at the top you have to train like you’re playing.
‘Every day, the best. Even in the gym, working, recovery is important, sleep is important, so seeing him and playing with him is a dream come true.
‘Watching YouTube clips of him is definitely inspirational so I’m thankful for him and everything he taught me in Manchester.’
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