Manchester United attempted to change Jadon Sancho's position in a bid to turn his fortunes around at the club.
Sancho has re-joined Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of the season following a public falling out with Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag.
The winger took issue with Ten Hag questioning his efforts in training after being left out of the matchday squad for September's 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.
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He claimed he'd been made a 'scapegoat' in a now-deleted statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sancho is hoping to resurrect his career away from Old Trafford, where he's struggled since moving from Dortmund in a £72 million transfer in 2021.
Those struggles have been detailed in a new report from The Athletic, which dropped hours after his Bundesliga return was confirmed.
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Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decided to sign Sancho but didn't get the best out of him.
Before his sacking in November 2021, Sancho failed to score or register a goal in 14 appearances.
During that time, with his job on the line, Solskjaer tweaked United's formation to a back three. Sancho was deployed as a right wing-back in training, a position he's never played in his professional career.
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Those tactics never made it to a game, but it showed how Sancho went from a transformational signing and one of the best youngsters in Europe to a bit-part player.
Within the club, there is a sense more could've been done in the early stages to help Sancho adapt to Premier League football.
A second spell in Germany could help the 23-year-old recapture his old form.
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Speaking to Dortmund's official website, Sancho said: "When I came into the dressing room today, it felt like 'coming home'. I know the club inside and out, I've always been very close with the fans here, and I've never lost contact with those in charge.
"I can’t wait to see my teammates again, go out on the pitch, play football with a smile on my face, prepare goals, score goals and help qualify for the Champions League."
Topics: Jadon Sancho, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Erik Ten Hag, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Premier League, Bundesliga