Manchester United had high hopes back in 2021 when a star studded attack was pieced together.
Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani were joined by Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo, giving manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a dream variety of attacking options.
It didn’t quite work out too well. Cavani and Martial were too injury-prone, Rashford was having one of his off-seasons, while Sancho struggled to replicate his Dortmund form.
Ronaldo did hold up his end, while Mason Greenwood’s career collapsed amid off-field allegations leading to his arrest, and 18 months out of the game.
By this time Solskjaer had been fired, and as we reach the end of the 2024 season, United’s previous attack is scattered across the globe.
Only Rashford and Martial remain at Old Trafford currently, with the Frenchman set to be released.
Cavani is in Argentina with Boca Juniors, Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, while Sancho is on loan at Dortmund in Germany and Greenwood rebuilding his career in Spain with Getafe.
Unthinkably, after how the first half of the campaign transpired, it is Sancho who is having the best 2023/24 season.
Sancho into Champions League final
Jadon Sancho is now building towards a dream Champions League finalagainst Real Madrid, after Borussia Dortmund stunned Paris Saint-Germain.
Sancho started both legs of the semi-final and caught the eye with a very lively display in the first leg in particular.
The winger is increasing his transfer value, and proving a point, preparing to play on a stage Manchester United can only dream of reaching, and won’t be playing in any time soon.
Greenwood message to Sancho
Sancho was congratulated by fellow Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood, who responded to his Instagram post along with Bruno Fernandes.
Greenwood is clearly happy for a player who is technically still his teammate, even though they have not shared even a training pitch together since 2021.
Jadon Sancho’s success will inspire Mason Greenwood, demonstrating that talent can shine through if provided with the right pressure-free environment, at the right level.
Neither player may have a future at United, with bridges burned, and summer exits are very likely if the right bids come in.
There have been a few interesting clubs linked to Greenwood, with Barcelona, Juventus and Atletico Madrid all credited with interest.
Greenwood has enjoyed his time on loan at Getafe, but the temptation to play Champions League football next season will be strong, with Sancho proving anything is possible.