Rio Ferdinand has told talkSPORT people should start giving Jadon Sancho more respect after his latest achievements.
Sancho left Manchester United midway through the season after falling out with Erik ten Hag, having been ostracised from the squad after refusing to apologise for a dig at the manager on social media.
It led to a return to Borussia Dortmund, signing on loan in January, a move that has been a huge benefit for both the player and club after the Germans reached the Champions League final against the odds.
Sancho has shone in Europe, particularly against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final where he, alongside Mats Hummels, were the best players on the pitch in both legs.
The Englishman broke dribbling records while PSG defender Nuno Mendes went to bed having nightmares about the flying forward.
And United legend Ferdinand believes people need to start putting some respect on Sancho’s name after his meteoric rise from the depths at Old Trafford.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the ex-England international said: “A lot has been said about him, a lot of it negative, and I think it’s about time people really give him a little bit of credit.
“Because I think it’s been a really difficult period for him. He’s been criticised, rightly or wrongly.
“The situation that happened between him and the manager, we can debate who was right and who was wrong.
“But he has been criticised heavily, confidence has been very low, he went into a period of isolation in terms of training away from the squad.
“Now he’s gone away to Dortmund to rebuild himself, as a footballer, as a human being, and he has come out the other side.
“Whether he wins the Champions League or not, what he’s achieved in this short little period of time has to be looked at and you go, ‘You know what? This kid’s got character’.
“He’s got personality, he’s built of the right stuff and I think that’s where he needs credit.”
Sancho will face off against old pal Jude Bellingham in the Champions League final on Saturday night at Wembley.
Bellingham played at Dortmund alongside Sancho, winning the DFB-Pokal Cup together, before the latter made the move to United in 2021.
The two are still close friends, while Bellingham revealed what the 24-year-old told him ahead of their high-profile reunion.
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- Rio Ferdinand: It’s about time people give Jadon Sancho some credit
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