Dimitar Berbatov insists Jadon Sancho’s behavior towards Man United boss Erik ten Hag was disrespectful and claims it would never have occurred under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Jadon Sancho’s ‘disrespectful’ conflict with Erik ten Hag would never have happened under Sir Alex Ferguson, Dimitar Berbatov has claimed. 

The £73million winger has been sent on loan to Borussia Dortmund having not played a game since August. 

Ten Hag barred him from first-team training after the 23-year-old publicly branded him a liar for critiquing his training performances and explaining why he was excluded against Arsenal in September. 

The Dutchman has extended an olive branch by insisting he can return to the fold so long as he apologises, but Berbatov feels it is hard for a manager without the unconquerable authority of Ferguson to deal with such a situation. 

‘When you complain and make that public in the case of Sancho, you show a bit of disrespect towards the manager. Of course the manager will take a drastic decision and punish you in a way,’ Betfair ambassador Berbatov tells Mail Sport. 

Ten Hag’s authority is weakened by the fact that he has only been in his job for 18 months, Berbatov explains

‘In the case of Ten Hag, one season in the in the managerial position of United, his authority is not going to be as the same Sir Alex, right?

‘So there is a difference. Because if Sir Alex was here still, Sancho, was he going to do what he’s done now? I don’t think so. He will never allow himself to do something like this.’

‘Ten Hag obviously like things to happen his way, and he showed that with the Ronaldo situation, so he obviously likes discipline.

‘And when Sancho has done something to offend maybe or not been part of that discipline, of course the manager is going to say something or maybe suspend you from the team. 

‘With Sir Alex it was more easy for him to ixert control over everything because it was Sir Alex, everything that he won and achieved around him and everything. But he obviously worked to become Sir Alex Ferguson, so when something like this is happening now with a manager that is one year in charge, then that authority is not as strong.’

Mail Sport understands that United are willing to pay up to £100,000 of his £290,000-per-week wages to smooth the deal financially for Dortmund, his former club. 

Sancho scored 50 goals and registered 64 assists in a golden four-year stint with the German club before moving to United in 2021, taking the number 25 shirt of Odion Ighalo. 

Berbatov – whose Zoom nickname when we speak is still B9 in homage to his rip-roaring United days – backs Sancho to rediscover his best form in the Bundesliga, where he was runner up in the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy awards in 2019. 

Ferguson built his fearsome reputation and legacy over a long period of time andruled the dressing room with an iron fist 

Berbatov, from his parked car, backed Sancho to get back to his ‘usual form’ at Borussia Dortmund, where he was one of the world’s best prospects 

He said: ‘I think it’s a good thing to do, because obviously he’s not going to play as long as Ten Hag is in the team, that’s for sure. So it’s better for him to go and play somewhere where he can get back to his usual form. 

‘And what better place then go into a safe environment, something that you know, something that you’ve been good at? 

‘I wish him good luck. And I hope that he can go back to the games that he produces, because the quality is still there. And he needs to play games. There is no point sitting, training, and doing nothing. So I think it’s it was about time for him to go back.’