Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has lifted the lid on why Jadon Sancho refused to apologise to Erik ten Hag following his social media outburst and subsequent exile last year.
Sancho was seen as one of the biggest signings Man United had made in years when he arrived at the club in 2021, especially given the saga surrounding the move, but it’s fair to say his time at Old Trafford hasn’t lived up to expectations thus far.
It then transpired that ten Hag didn’t feel this was, at least in part, down to the youngster’s effort levels in training and he said as much in a press conference, leading the 24-year-old to rebut the claim very publicly online – a decision which saw him banished from first-team training and club facilities.
The Dutchman reportedly said Sancho would be able to return to the fold if he just gave him an apology, but that still hasn’t happened and now McCarthy has revealed the very simple reason why.
“I think Jadon feels that if he apologises, then he’s going to be classed as someone who doesn’t train hard, that doesn’t work hard and that everything that was said against him was true.
“And if you are from the streets, no one wants to apologise; you [would have to] admit you are not training well, you are lazy, everything you are accused of. Jadon wasn’t going to have that. The manager just said that all he wants is an apology.
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“I spoke to Jadon as a coach, as a mentor, as a friend, and as someone who grew up on the streets and knows the code, but Jadon just wasn’t seeing it”, said McCarthy.
The 46-year-old went on to add that United loanee and England international (who was left out of the provisional England squad for the Euros) told him: “I ain’t apologising because if I do, I’m apologising for being lazy, always being late, not giving my best. That’s what I’m apologizing for.”
A former forward himself – one who was hailed for improving United’s attackers last season – the coach clearly empathises with the talented winger but was careful not to be anything other than impartial and didn’t give any further hints as to where the situation is at now.
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Now finding himself in his first-ever Champions League final after rediscovering some of the form that made so many clubs want to sign back on loan at his former club, Borussia Dortmund, Sancho is still contracted to United and could go on to deliver the ultimate vindication if they beat Real Madrid.
Moreover, with ten Hag’s future at United still uncertain despite his side’s impressive victory over Man City in the FA Cup final, the door could be open for a virtually seamless return to Old Trafford and a fresh start for the number 25.
As for whether he ultimately stays and Sancho apologises, only time will tell but to get a player of his talent back in the squad whilst fully fit and firing could be massive for the club next season. Then again, if they remain at an impasse, they might just try and recoup as much money as possible.
Manchester City have officially revealed their fourth signing of the summer window after confirming the transfer of top target Tijjani Reijnders.
The highly sought-after Serie A midfielder joins the club from AC Milan on a five-year contract for an initial fee of approximately £46.5 million, after having been tracked by a number of clubs across Europe over the past season or so.
Reijnders, 26, registered 15 goals and five assists from central midfielder last season (more than any other player in the league) with Italian football journalist Mina Rzouki stating that he models his game on Kevin De Bruyne, making him the perfect replacement for the Belgian – on paper, at least.
Finally unveiled on Wednesday, 11 June, he is arguably the statement signing of what looks to be a continued spending spree which began back in January.
With Man City splashing roughly £200m to kick off the 2025 calendar year as they brought the likes of Omar Marmoush and a trio of defensively geared players in Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and CDM Nico Gonzalez, it seems like they started as they mean to go on.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak assured fans that the club would be picking up “several players” in a recent interview after he argued they hadn’t been aggressive enough last summer, and given that the current main window hasn’t even been open for a fortnight yet, we’d say he’s sticking to that promise.
This year actually marks a rare instance of the transfer window being broken up into two parts due to the FIFA Club World Cup (which City are among the favourites to win) and will then re-open on 16 June.
Nevertheless, the Blues look to have got plenty of their business done already, not only with the arrival of Reijnders but the acquisition of left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri earlier this week, plus another attack-minded midfielder, Rayan Cherki.
The second player of Algerian descent and the second signing of the summer window was quickly announced by the Man City social media team just before the Dutchman.
Along with the signing of a new shotstopper, Marcus Betinelli from Chelsea – set to replace former reserve goalkeeper Scott Carson, who left the club after six seasons on Monday – that makes it four new incoming already.
Once again, not only do these latest additions to Pep Guardiola’s squad take their transfer total to over £300m on new talent in 2025, but there is still plenty of time for City to sign even more players with the summer window not closing until 7pm BST on 1 September.
Although the club have now acquired all of the players they have been most publicly linked with so far, it’s unclear whether their spending will continue or if the focus now turns to the Club World Cup getting underway this month and preparing the current squad for next season.
What do you make of Man City‘s latest recruits? Don’t forget, there have been some new arrivals in the backroom as well.
The beloved Billy Boston, the definition of a Wigan Warriors legend, has been given the first knighthood in rugby league history.
A Welsh hero as well, the former professional was a pioneering force for black players in the UK during the mid-20th century, representing both Wigan and Great Britain, with over 500 competitive appearances, primarily as a winger.
Having scored an unprecedented total of 478 tries in 487 games for the Warriors (571 in his entire career), he remains not just one of their greatest icons but one of the most influential rugby league players of all time.
With that in mind, while it may have been long overdue, Boston was made a knight prior to the King’s birthday and before the honours list was even officially announced.
🎖️🏉 Today at Buckingham Palace, Sir Billy Boston became the first sportsman to receive a knighthood for services to Rugby League.
The King presented Sir Billy – who is considered one of the best Rugby League players of all time, scoring a British record of 571 tries and 488… pic.twitter.com/QD8jTR7jPS
Now 90 years old, an exception was made for the Cardiff-born ex-pro due to growing concerns over his health; moreover, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dubbed it a “historic wrong that a sport which is the backbone of so many communities has waited so long to receive this honour.”
Since it’s taken a total of 130 years for someone from the discipline, we tend to agree.
Boston was sadly diagnosed with vascular dementia back in 2016 at the age of 82 – a disease that is being increasingly studied across rugby, given the contact sport’s strong connection to conditions like CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy).
Head coach and fellow record-breaker, Matt Peet, wrote in a statement via the club: “Not just for Billy or Wigan, but for rugby league to get its first knighthood is great news. He’s an iconic figure and name in our Club, and he’s certainly part of the team at Wigan.
“He has a huge presence, and he’s just a really warm character. I’d just describe him as a gentleman, very humble, always up for a laugh, and he’s been very supportive since we’ve been in position.”
130 years of discrimination is over as Billy Boston becomes the first rugby league player to be knighted.
A Black Welshman who became a legend in Wigan, Billy is a pioneer as well as one of the greatest players of all time.
— Mike Meehall Wood (@MikeMeehallWood) June 9, 2025
Echoing his sentiment, Wigan Warriors‘ chairman, Chris Brookes, said, “I am absolutely delighted and so happy that Billy – and rugby league – has finally received the ultimate recognition his stellar career deserves”, with club CEO Kris Radlinski going on to to add: “He’s a cultural icon in rugby league.”
Unsurprisingly, WRL (the nation’s official governing body) joined the flood of individuals and organisations in celebrating the groundbreaking sporting great, writing: “The boy from Tiger Bay who became a Knight. A very proud day for Billy, his family and Wales Rugby League.”
Congratulations to a local legend who paved the way for generations of future rugby stars.
It’s been a special few days for the Greater Manchester side as their women’s team also made some history of their own this past weekend.
Danny Jones -
31st May 2024 
