Neymar didn’t hesitate when naming his favourite England player, but the star’s career has taken a major turn since the Brazilian tipped him for greatness.
Back in 2020 ahead of a crucial Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund, the then PSG superstar took it upon himself to heap praise on one teenage opponent.
Leading up to the game 19-year-old Jadon Sancho had registered 12 goals and 13 assists in just 19 league appearances as he continued his rise after leaving England.
“Jadon is a player that I really like to watch play and he is a great player with plenty of quality,” Neymar explained.
“Borussia Dortmund is a team with plenty of quality players. They have a special player, who is new but who is very good whose name is Sancho.
“He is a good player. We all know how difficult it will be for us here at Dortmund. We are hoping to play a good game to get a good result back to Paris,” he added.
Speaking in 2018, Sancho admitted Neymar has always been his idol which perhaps explains why the Brazilian tracked him closely during the early stages of his career.
“My favourite player and role model is Neymar. He plays his opponents dizzy at the highest pace, and he is incredibly dangerous in front of goal,” Sancho told Bild.
“He’s just different. He takes the mickey out of people. He’s just being himself, he’s expressing himself and I love that.”
Despite all his promise, Sancho has only been capped by England 23 times, with his last appearance coming against Andorra in 2021 where he grabbed two assists.
Jadon Sancho for Chelsea- Getty
The 25-year-old’s career started its downward trajectory when he finally made a return to Premier League football, signing for Man United in 2021.
Sancho’s time at Old Trafford has been nothing short of disastrous, with just nine goals and six assists across 58 Premier League appearances.
The winger is still contracted to the club until the summer of 2026, and could yet return to United despite Chelsea having an ‘obligation to buy’ following his season-long loan.
The London club are reportedly considering paying a fee to get out of the agreement, with Sancho failing to make the impact expected at Stamford Bridge.
Featured Image Credit: Romario TV
Topics: Neymar, Jadon Sancho, Football, Premier League, Manchester United, Chelsea, Transfers
