The 18-year-old took the brave decision to leave Manchester City for Germany, but is being tipped to become a talismanic figure for club and country
Jadon Sancho has been backed to become a “Neymar-type player” for England by Dan Micciche, a coach who helped to put the Borussia Dortmund star on the road to senior stardom.
At just 18 years of age, the highly-rated forward has already displayed commendable ambition and no little ability.
Having come through the ranks at Watford, the youngster then opted to leave a famed academy system at Manchester City and head for Germany in the summer of 2017.
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Sancho is now an established part of the first team set-up at Dortmund and an U17 World Cup winner with his country.
He is being tipped to take his game to even greater heights in the years to come, with Micciche – who worked with the youngster at U15 and U16 level with England – telling The Guardian: “Provided he doesn’t become restricted he could be our Neymar-type player – in terms of being unpredictable, playing on that left-hand side.
“And he’s flamboyant, entertaining to watch. But like Neymar, he’s effective with it. In most games he’ll create something – it’s not a beauty contest. He’s not on the pitch flicking it over someone’s head for the sake of it.
“What he brings to the table are ball skills – being able to play out of tight areas in a way where he can beat a player rather than having to pass it and he can do that a variety of ways. He can run with the ball at speed and go both sides.
“Even though he’s right-footed, when he’s dribbling at people on that left side he can actually go inside or outside and that makes him very difficult to defend against.”
Sancho has already made history during his time with Dortmund, becoming the youngest Englishman to score in the Bundesliga, with it suggested that he is already in the thoughts of senior Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
Micciche expects an exciting talent to remain on an upward curve, with every test he has faced so far having been passed with flying colours.
The former MK Dons boss added: “First of all his mentality is strong – he’s gone from Watford to Man City, so moving up north – and then had the mentality to move to another country.
“He’s travelled the world with club and country – that takes a lot of discipline, sacrifice. And he’s delivered on every stage he’s been put on, including now in Germany.”
Sancho has made three appearances off the bench for Dortmund during the 2018-19 campaign, with there the promise of much more to come as he continues to impress away from his homeland.