Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq could not afford to meet Manchester United’s demands for out-of-favour winger Jadon Sancho, according to a report.

Sancho was left out of United’s squad for their Premier League defeat against Arsenal on Sunday and Erik ten Hag revealed after the game that it was because of the player’s poor effort in training leading up to the game.

“Jadon, on his performances in training we did not select him,” Ten Hag said after his side were beaten 3-1 at the Emirates.

“You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United and we can make choices in the front line. So for this game he was not selected.”

The England winger did not take too kindly to Ten Hag’s comments, posting a statement on social media on Sunday evening.

The statement read: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week.

“I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, l’ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair! “All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team.

“I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and (am) grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge.

“I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!”

Sancho clearly stands by what he said as the post – which has over 60 million views – has not been taken down.

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Despite feeling he is a “scapegoat” and has let everyone and their nan know about it, Sancho was included in the Red Devils’ Champions League squad, unlike Donny van de Beek.

Signed for around £73million from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021, the 23-year-old has struggled to shine at Old Trafford and you get the feeling this season really is a case of do or die.

Although Sancho was named in Ten Hag’s squad for the Champions League group stage, the Dutch manager is reportedly open to offloading the former Dortmund starlet.

And United’s asking price was £50m, which was deemed too much for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq, according to the Daily Mail. Too much for a club from Saudi Arabia? Bloody hell…

The report says Sancho’s future at Old Trafford is ‘uncertain’ with Steven Gerrard eager to offer the player a way out of his Old Trafford nightmare.

Sancho ‘expressed an interest in moving to Saudi Arabia’ after contact was made via intermediaries after Al-Ettifaq finalised a deal to sign Demarai Gray from Everton.

United apparently wanted the let the 23-year-old leave on loan with an obligation to buy for £50m, which the middle east club could not afford, with a deal now ‘dead’.

Meanwhile, ESPN claims that Ten Hag is expected to come down hard on Sancho as the Dutch manager will see the England international’s statement ‘as a challenge to his authority’.

Ten Hag has been big on discipline since joining the Premier League club. Just ask Cristiano Ronaldo.

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The article Saudi bid ‘fails’ as Man Utd flop faces ‘uncertain future’ after ‘challenging’ Ten Hag’s ‘authority’ appeared first on Football365.com.