REVEALED: Why Jadon Sancho Turned Down Roma Move Amid Manchester United Exit Talks

Jadon Sancho’s future remains uncertain after he turned down the chance to join Roma on a loan-to-buy deal — leaving Manchester United frustrated as they continue to search for a solution before the summer transfer window closes.

United, who are desperate to offload the winger after his troubled spell at Old Trafford, had shown strong interest in Roma’s proposal. According to Fabrizio Romano (via GiveMeSport), the Italian club were prepared to take Sancho on loan with a compulsory purchase clause in 2026 for a fee worth £20 million ($27m). For United, the deal looked like an ideal way to recoup some of the £73m they splashed on him back in 2021 while also freeing up space for new arrivals.

But despite the agreement being favourable on paper for the Red Devils, Sancho himself wasn’t convinced. Reports suggest that the 25-year-old rejected Roma’s approach because of a mix of financial and technical reasons, casting further doubt on where his career will head next.

Agent’s demands causing trouble

According to Corriere dello Sport, one of the main obstacles came from Sancho’s representatives. His agent has reportedly demanded a hefty €10m (£9.5m/$11.6m) commission fee as part of any transfer deal. That figure has already spooked several clubs who were previously keeping tabs on the winger. Both Atletico Madrid and Juventus are said to have cooled their interest because of the financial burden attached to negotiations.

Roma, led by head coach Daniele De Rossi, were still willing to push their financial limits to bring Sancho to Serie A, but the additional costs may now prove too much for them as well.

Sancho’s stalled career at United

Since joining Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, Sancho has failed to live up to his price tag. In three seasons, he has managed just 12 goals and 6 assists in the Premier League, far from the numbers he was hitting in Germany where he had once registered 20 goals and 20 assists in a single season (2019/20).

A fallout with manager Erik ten Hag last season effectively ended his chances of regular football at Old Trafford, with the winger banished from first-team training. Though he spent the second half of last season on loan back at Dortmund, he only showed flashes of his old form.

United had hoped that Roma could provide a way out, but with Sancho turning them down, the club now face the prospect of holding onto an unhappy player whose wages remain one of the highest in the squad.

What next for Sancho?

The rejection of Roma’s offer leaves Sancho in transfer limbo. With just days left in the main European transfer window, options are quickly running out. However, there is still a possible escape route: the Turkish transfer window remains open until September 12, giving Sancho more time to engineer a move.

Turkey has often been a landing spot for big-name stars looking for a fresh start, and clubs like Galatasaray and Fenerbahce could still swoop in if negotiations pick up pace. For now, though, Sancho’s future remains unresolved, and United are left frustrated by another setback in their summer business.

United’s financial headache

From Manchester United’s perspective, the collapsed Roma deal is a major blow. The club have been under pressure to balance the books and make room for new signings, with Sancho one of the key players they were hoping to move on.

A £20m permanent transfer in 2026 would not only have eased the financial burden but also helped reset their squad planning. Now, United face the risk of holding onto a player who doesn’t appear to have a future under Ten Hag, while still paying his sizeable wages.