Cesc Fabregas has pinpointed the fall from grace of Jadon Sancho, Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat as proof that all is not well at Manchester United.
United endured a miserable season, finishing eighth in the Premier League, being dumped out of the Carabao Cup at the fourth round stage and ending up rock bottom of their Champions League group.
The campaign was also plagued by a drastic fall in form from some of the top stars. Sancho fell out with Ten Hag in September and was subsequently sent out on loan to Borussia Dortmund.
Casemiro meanwhile, was told to end his career as a top-flight footballer after he endured a radical downturn in form. And Amrabat went from starring at the 2022 World Cup to being regarded as a flop following his loan move to the Red Devils.
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And it is the experience of those three players in particular that has raised red flags for Fabregas. The former Arsenal captain insisted that the poor performances of the trio is not a coincidence.
“Manchester United will come back because they are a big team but look at Jadon Sancho. He’s not doing well at United, he goes to Dortmund and he looks again like the player we all thought he was going to be,” Fabregas told the BBC ’s Planet Premier League podcast.
“Look at the midfielder that impressed for Morocco at the World Cup [Amrabat], he was fantastic. And then he goes to Man United and he’s not been the same player. Casemiro won Champions League after Champions League at Real Madrid.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 12: Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on May 12, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Fabregas picked out the poor performances of Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat as particular red flags.
“He was the best defensive midfielder in the world and then he goes to Manchester United and looks like a completely different player. Obviously it makes me think that something is wrong there. It’s not a coincidence that three top, top players come in and they are not good all of a sudden.”
Despite Fabregas’ concerns, United did win the FA Cup last weekend by beating fierce rivals Manchester City. And boss Erik ten Hag pointed to the club’s injury issues as the reason behind his side’s difficult season.
“We didn’t have the players. You are right we have seen the same thing, it has not always been good football. But we have had to make a lot of compromises and then you can’t play the football you want to play,” he said.
“I have been here two years and we have maybe had three or four times when we have had the full squad available. Today again we have had players like Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Casemiro not on board.
” Football is about winning trophies at the end of the day. I want to play the best football, attacking football, dynamic football. But in the end, you have to win games and trophies. That is the mentality we brought in and we had only one opportunity this season, in the FA Cup.”
