Sancho echoes Michael Jordan with transfer announcement،
Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that Jadon Sancho has completed his return to the club on a loan deal from Manchester United for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, and the way they did it will be familiar to Chicago Bulls fans of the NBA.
After becoming one of Europe's most sought-after young players during his excellent four years at Dortmund, Sancho left the Bundesliga club to sign for United in the summer of 2021 in a huge transfer £73 million. However, the winger's career at Old Trafford never really got off the ground, he has not played since August and was left out of the first team altogether after falling out with manager Erik ten Hag.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)
Despite Sancho's high-profile fall, Dortmund decided to announce the 23-year-old's return to Signal Iduna Park in an extremely bold way. The club released a two-word statement from Sancho, echoing one made by superstar Michael Jordan upon his return to the Bulls in 1995 after reversing his ill-fated decision to retire from basketball to pursue a career in baseball.
The German side announced the news with a mock-up of a statement from “Michael Jadon”, which informed the world: “I'm back.”
Michael Jadon. pic.twitter.com/Jp1xXUG4wX
– Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) January 11, 2024
Given that Sancho has scored 12 goals and provided just six assists in 82 games for United, and hasn't played in several months, one only has to admire both the player and the social media team of Dortmund for the audacity of this decision.
When Jordan returned to the Bulls nearly three decades ago, he led the team to a streak of three consecutive NBA championships, matching the feat achieved in the years before his shock retirement.
No pressure, Jadon.
The ironic two-word quote is reminiscent of the statement released by Zlatan Ibrahimovic upon his transfer to LA Galaxy in 2018.
The Swedish striker, who has never underestimated his importance, took out a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times welcoming himself to MLS.
HE'S THERE! 💙 pic.twitter.com/JuZEtzTWbv
-Manchester City (@ManCity) June 13, 2022
Manchester City also limited themselves to two words when signing Erling Haaland from Dortmund in June 2022.
Premier League giants simply informed fans “he's here” accompanied by a naughty wink from the Norwegian striker.
My love, my team, MI CASA! @atleti 🔴⚪🔴
My supporters, my team, MY HOUSE! @AtletiFR 🔴⚪🔴
My fans, my team, MY HOUSE!!! @atletienanglais 🔴⚪🔴 pic.twitter.com/ByD8Cju5Yb
-Antoine Griezmann (@AntoGriezmann) June 14, 2018
Footballers taking inspiration from NBA stars have also backfired in the past. Who can forget the LeBron James-inspired mini-documentary commissioned by Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann when speculation over a possible move to Barcelona began to gather pace in the summer of 2018.
The French striker made a short film it showed him openly discussing his future with friends and family only to ultimately reveal he had decided to stay at Atleti with the message: “My fans, my team, MY HOME!!!”
Several months later, Griezmann announced a second time that he had changed his mind and now intended to leave the club. And of course, the huge transfer of 120 million euros to Barça quickly materialized.
