Jadon Sancho will play at the Etihad Stadium

Live in a hurry. Jadon Sancho is a tremendously fast player on the pitch, but running has not been the only thing he has done during his career. At the age of eleven he left the family home in South London. He went to Uxbridge, east of the English capital, to study and play at an academy affiliated with the Watford structure. He left behind the bad influences that he himself has previously cited to focus on what he liked best, football. At the age of 13, he measured 16-year-olds in the Hornets quarry, and he surpassed them. He took the ball and started, leaving rivals in his wake. As he did later with the clubs. Jadon knew what he wanted, and he wanted it now.

He arrived in Manchester in March 2015, in a transfer that sparked controversy. the german newspaper The mirror revealed that an alleged payment to agent Emeka Obasi for having scouted soccer players in Central and South America was related to Sancho’s departure to City. In 2019 the investigation was closed without finding evidence that this was the case. He soon caught the attention of the club’s employees, for his talent and for his behavior. He scored two goals on his debut for Manchester City’s U16 team. No one doubted his abilities, but the winger waited for his turn while he watched his teammates get promoted to U18. He experienced the same situation when he reached the cityzen subsidiary, opportunities with the first team were scarce. Haste this time seemed to work against him. Those responsible for the Mancunian club’s academy asked for patience, as they wanted to prevent success from going to their heads. Had to finish polishing it.

In September 2017, Jadon Sancho felt ready. He signed with Borussia Dortmund, who paid eight million pounds for him. “It’s time to start a new challenge where I can develop my full potential,” said the then 17-year-old. “Perhaps he thinks that in Dortmund he will have more minutes,” Pep Guardiola reflected at a press conference after the announcement of the signing. He had them, and he took advantage of them. He scored 13 goals and distributed 20 assists in his second campaign in the Bundesliga, the one of consecration. He stormed the Bundesliga with his self-confidence and his quality. He achieved the prominence he longed for, and last summer the opportunity came to return to the Premier League, now, as a star.

He had been the subject of many rumors during the previous transfer markets, but his arrival at Old Trafford coincided with that of Cristiano Ronaldo. Sancho was relegated to the background. His momentum and hunger for the ball was lowered. Perhaps due to the presence of the Portuguese star, the Englishman got rid of balls that he would have previously tried to drive into the rival net. He recently explained the learning he is receiving from Ronaldo, and recently it has started to work. She has clicked. February has been his best month as a red devil. He has played more, has created more danger and has also been more successful. In his last four starts he has scored two goals and has assisted in another two. March begins with a tough test, the visit to the Etihad Stadium.

Jadon Sancho has never played there. He never with the reserves, with whom he played two FA Youth Cup finals, and never with the Manchester City first team. Nor with Borussia Dortmund, in the Champions League last season. An injury prevented him from returning to where he was going, could or should have been his home. “We wanted him to stay,” Guardiola said in April. “But when people want to go, you can only let them go. I wish him the best, except when he plays against us. without grudge If he is happy, I am happy.” Sunday yes. On Sunday they will meet again. Sancho will play at the Etihad Stadium.