Why Jadon Sancho’s Borussia Dortmund return is perfect for all parties

“It’s a good day,” Jadon Sancho said, mostly to himself, as he leant back in his chair after officially rejoining Borussia Dortmund on loan in January. “A good day.”

Two-and-a-half years after leaving the Bundesliga for an ill-fated spell at Manchester United, Sancho’s return to the Ruhr region has been hailed as a move with no downsides. In Italy, they like to say that reheated soup never tastes as good. Clearly, the message does not translate to Germany.

Sancho’s last senior match of 2023 came in August before he was left out of United’s squad for a trip to Arsenal at the start of the new season. A public airing of dirty laundry followed as Sancho strongly refuted Erik ten Hag’s criticism of his efforts in training, earning an exile from the senior setup until the January transfer window offered a merciful exit.

It’s little wonder that Sancho is pleased to have extricated himself from the grim situation at Old Trafford, and, truth be told, it’s exactly what United need as well. Here are the reasons for all parties to be thrilled with his return to Borussia.

During his four-month exile at Manchester United, Sancho was banned from all first-team facilities. While the club’s one-star food hygiene rating suggests he wasn’t missing out on trips to the canteen, Sancho had to train on academy pitches. When getting changed in the adjacent dressing rooms, the 23-year-old was forced to lock the door so that no underage player accidentally walked in and broke safeguarding protocols.

The scene was remarkably different upon his return to Dortmund’s dressing room. The likes of Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham may have gone but there were plenty of familiar faces to envelope Sancho in a squall of hugs and high-fives.

Sancho has made a point of stressing how comfortable he is at Dortmund, repeatedly describing the club that he joined at 17 as “home to me”. “Making my debut here in professional football,” Sancho gushed, “it’s always been a dream for me, so I’m happy to be back. Can’t wait to get started.”

It wasn’t always sunshine and smiles for Sancho at Dortmund. Rumours of his disciplinary problems have bubbled away for years, with an Independent report in November 2019 describing a tense scene of “war in all directions” after Sancho’s repeated lateness wore thin. Yet, it…