Revealed: What Marcus Rashford really thinks of Jadon Sancho’s reply to his post – and why the Chelsea loanee’s message feels tone deaf, writes CHRIS WHEELER

Jadon Sancho, of all people, shouldn’t need to be reminded just how much trouble a social media comment can cause.

After all, it was Sancho’s ill-advised criticism of Erik ten Hag on Instagram in September 2023 that led to the end of his Manchester United career, and now his response to an innocent message by Marcus Rashford has put him in the firing line again.

After Rashford thanked Aston Villa fans following Sunday’s FA Cup win over Tottenham for their support on his debut on loan from Old Trafford, Sancho posted a one-word reply to his former United and England teammate: freedom.

United supporters were quick to hit back at the suggestion that the two players were somehow imprisoned at Old Trafford, and sources close to Rashford have indicated that he doesn’t appreciate being dragged into his former United and England team-mate’s apparent beef with the club.

If Sancho was looking for a buddy to join him in the United bomb squad, he will have to go somewhere else.

Freedom from what, one might ask. Freedom from representing one of the biggest teams in the world? Freedom from playing in front of 75,000 fans? Freedom from leaving a club that is still paying you a small fortune to play for somebody else?

Marcus Rashford posted a message to Aston Villa fans after his debut and Sancho replied with one word: ‘Freedom’

Sancho, on loan at Chelsea, is well aware of the trouble a social media comment can cause 

Chelsea might be covering the bulk of Sancho’s £250,000-a-week salary during his loan spell at Stamford Bridge, but United are still picking up about £50,000 of the tab.

Given that he joined Chelsea in late August and the deal runs until June 30, that works out at the thick end of £2million.

Until then, Sancho is still technically a United player under contract at Old Trafford, although he left the players’ WhatsApp chat some time ago.

There was never any chance of him returning to the club when he cleared out his locker at Carrington last summer and left for the last time after ending the previous season on loan at his old team Borussia Dortmund.

United bought him from the German club for £73m in the summer of 2021, but the last kick of a hugely underwhelming Old Trafford was a failed attempt in the shootout as Ten Hag’s side lost the Community Shield to Manchester City on penalties in August.

It came a year after his previous appearance for United following a public fallout with Ten Hag sparked by Sancho effectively branding his manager a liar on social media over his reasons for dropping the winger against Arsenal.

Sancho refused to apologise and was forced to train and eat on his own before escaping back to Dortmund.

A brief and fragile rapprochement in the summer with Ten Hag made it easier for United to strike a deal with Chelsea to take the 24-year-old on loan for the rest of the season with an obligation to buy him for between £20-25m.

Sancho hasn’t set the world on fire at Chelsea, even if his form has slightly improved

Sources have said Rashford is unhappy at being dragged into Sancho’s issues with the club

Rashford’s situation at United is different to Sancho’s as he wants to remain on good terms with his boyhood club

A record of two goals and six assists in 21 games at Stamford Bridge is arguably a slight improvement on the 12 goals and six assists he managed in 83 games for United, but he hasn’t set the world on fire.

Although Ten Hag was sacked nearly four months ago, it seems Sancho still bears a grudge against his parent club judging by his message to Rashford on Sunday night.

It should be noted that the two players share the same PR agency, which also represents Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Mason Mount.

Ronaldo forced his Old Trafford exit with an explosive TV interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022, and Sancho lit the fuse with his incendiary Instagram post 10 months later.

Given Varane’s uneasy relationship with Ten Hag as well, United could have been forgiven for feeling edgy when Rashford signed with the same agency a year ago.

It was no great surprise to the club when the 27-year-old gave an interview in December that precipitated his departure, saying he was ‘ready for a new challenge and the next steps’ in his career.

Rashford’s situation is different to Sancho’s, though. United are his boyhood team and he wants to remain on good terms with the club and their supporters. There is credit in the bank.

Rashford could still return to United as Villa have an option – rather than obligation – to buy him

Man United boss Ruben Amorim outlined concerns with Rashford’s training and approach

While his departure feels final, it is not out of the question that Rashford could return if he rediscovers his best form at Villa who are paying about £240,000 of his £315,000-a-week wages and have an option rather than an obligation to buy him for £40m. 

But for Sancho to talk of ‘freedom’ for multi-millionaire footballers feels particularly tone deaf.

When Alexis Sanchez signalled his return from Chile to Carrington after Jose Mourinho’s sacking in December 2018 with an Instagram video set to the Gladiator theme tune Now We Are Free, he was sending a message to one man. Sancho has chosen to have a dig at the club. 

If he hadn’t already burned his bridges at United, he has now.