“That has been his problem for years. Even when he was in Manchester City. That was why Pep Guardiola sold him out of the club for just £8 Million not mind all his talents”- Kieron Dyer recalls witnessing Jadon Sancho ‘red flag’ when he watched him as a youngster for Man City

Former England football star Kieron Dyer has shared a concerning observation about Jadon Sancho’s behavior during his time at Manchester City. Sancho, now 24, was a rising star at City before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2017, where he gained international recognition. Dyer, who witnessed Sancho’s talent firsthand, also noticed a troubling attitude issue that has persisted throughout his career.

According to Dyer, Sancho’s mindset was a key factor in Pep Guardiola’s decision to let him go for a mere £8 million, despite his immense potential. Sancho’s journey has been marked by ups and downs, including a challenging spell at Manchester United before returning to Dortmund on loan in January 2024.

Dyer, who coached and watched Sancho play for City’s youth team, recalled a specific incident that raised a “red flag” for him. In the FA Youth Cup final against Chelsea, Sancho, then 17, struggled against Reece James and seemed to give up on his team. Dyer described the incident:

“He just mentally went, and I kind of had a red flag against him then… He’s got the world at his feet, and alright, he’s had a bad game, but he’s quit on his teammates… You could see the life had gone out of him; he’d stopped tracking back and sort of given up and was basically mentally gone.”

Despite this, Sancho has shown resilience and talent, recently helping Dortmund reach the Champions League final against Real Madrid. His performances have been impressive, with three goals and three assists in 20 appearances since his return to Dortmund.

Dyer’s observation highlights the importance of mental toughness in football, and how attitude can impact a player’s career trajectory. Sancho’s story serves as a reminder that even the most talented players face challenges and must work to overcome them to achieve success.