Fallen Manchester United striker Jadon Sancho has returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan, it was announced on Thursday.
Dortmund transfer announcement because Sancho emulated basketball legend Michael Jordan's infamous “I'm back” press release when he returned from playing in Major League Baseball to rejoin the Chicago Bulls in 1995.
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Sancho signed from Dortmund in a £73 million ($93 million) deal in 2021, but has not played for United since August following a public row with coach Erik ten Hag.
The striker has been exiled from the first team for more than four months after publicly questioning Ten Hag's reasoning for leaving him out of the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal on September 3.
In a now-deleted post on
Sancho has made 82 appearances for United, scoring 12 goals and has a contract at Old Trafford until at least 2026.
“When I walked into the locker room today it felt like 'coming home,'” Sancho said in a statement.
“I know the club inside and out, I have always been very close to the fans and I have never lost contact with those responsible.
“I can't wait to see my teammates again, go out on the field, play football with a smile on my face, set up goals, score goals and help qualify for the Champions League.”
– Sancho echoes Jordan with the transfer announcement
Ten Hag had previously left the door open for Sancho to return, but insisted that he must apologize first.
“It's about a culture and every player has to meet certain standards and that's what it's about,” Ten Hag said in December.
“What will happen there, he knows what he has to do if he wants to come back and it's up to him. He knows what he has to do, it's up to him. “We'll see what will happen. “It's an internal matter, we'll see what happens.”
Sancho played 137 games for Dortmund between 2017 and 2021 and scored 50 goals.