Cristiano Ronaldo 'lobbied for Jadon Sancho to be dropped' in Man Utd switch as private meeting revealed

Cristiano Ronaldo 'lobbied' for a tactical change at Manchester United that would have seen Jadon Sancho dropped from the starting XI, a new report has claimed.

Focus has been on Sancho throughout the international break, after he was not named in the matchday squad for United's 3-1 defeat against Arsenal.

Manager Erik ten Hag stated that the 23-year-old was not involved because of his training performances, although Sancho disputed those claims in a now-deleted post on Twitter.

He wrote: "Please don't believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that are completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week.

"I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won't go into. I've been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair!"

According to the Daily Star, Ten Hag and Sancho held 'clear-the-air talks' this week - but did not reach a conclusion.

The England winger now looks likely to leave Old Trafford in January, with Saudi Pro League clubs among those interested in signing him.

Now, a new report has made a fresh claim about his time alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford between summer 2021 and November 2022.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho Man Utd claim made

Throughout much of interim manager Ralf Rangnick's tenure in Sancho's first season, United played a 4-3-3 formation that saw Sancho utilised on the right wing when starting.

According to The Athletic, however, Ronaldo wanted United to use a different style, and it is claimed that he lobbied for Rangnick to switch formation that would see the side play with two centre forwards.

It is said that the switch, as a result, would have seen Sancho dropped, or potentially moved to a more unfamiliar position up front.

However, the report adds that Rangnick was concerned over implementing the request, given that Sancho had scored two goals in his last three games at the time from his right wing position.

Another issue, it is reported, regarded shirt numbers, given that the number seven shirt Sancho had been promised was instead handed to Edinson Cavani, who would go on to have little impact on the team that season before being released at the end of his contract.

The Uruguayan only played one Premier League game while wearing the number, though, as it was handed back to Ronaldo following his deadline day arrival from August.