Should Manchester United, and the wider world, failed to have understood the absoluteness of Michael Zorc’s comments earlier this week, then they’ve just been sent another message underlining everything.
The Borussia Dortmund sport manager was speaking from the club’s Bad Ragaz training camp, after their August 10th deadline for a Jadon Sancho transfer had expired.
Insisting the deadline was a real thing and not just a negotiating tactic, Zorc said: “We plan with Sancho. He’ll play for us next season. The decision is final. I think that answers all of the questions.”
That saw many Manchester United fans on social media bring up comments from Dortmund in the past, when they’d said they wouldn’t sell a player, only to later do so. The biggest example is Ousmane Dembele, however, the German media have been repeatedly pointing out the Frenchman went AWOL and forced a move, something they don’t believe Sancho will resort to.
Dortmund have insisted they’ve spoken to both the player and those who represent him, and the relationship remains good.
Now, Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has gone as far as he can to insist the stance is real, and that Sancho isn’t going anywhere this summer.
Speaking to German TV channel RTL, Watzke has been quoted by Sport1 as saying: “We are Westphalian. We have agreed on this language rule, which sporting director Michael Zorc explained on Monday. Assume: Definitely means definite for a Westphalian. Jadon will play the 2020/21 season with us, there is no room for interpretation.”
Should he not now play for Dortmund next season, and instead complete a move to Manchester United, the German club are going to struggle to be taken seriously again.
