Liverpool great John Barnes admits he feels sorry for Jadon Sancho and the 'problem' Manchester United have.
A move four years in the making, omitted England starlet Sancho is finally a United player after Borussia Dortmund agreed to sanction his £72.9million return to the UK during the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old was followed through the door by Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Back for a second act at Old Trafford, returning United great Ronaldo has already scored nine goals in 11 matches to ease pressure on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - who was granted permission for those three marquee signings on the back of a second-place finish last season.
But while Ronaldo has thrived back at the place where it all began on a global scale, Sancho has in turn been made to play second fiddle to him and Portuguese teammate Bruno Fernandes - among others.
As things stand, the former Manchester City prospect has been unable to provide a direct goal contribution and his lack of form has, ultimately, cost him a place in the latest Three Lions squad.
So what is the exact cause of those teething problems for Sancho?
Speaking as part of a promotion for Bonus Code Bets, ex-England international Barnes said: "How are we going to see more from Jadon Sancho when Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba are the stars of the team?
"Players like that detract from the likes of Sancho and even Marcus Rashford and that's the problem.
"Sancho came in for £80m to be one of their main attacking players, but now he's got to sit on the bench - so how can we see more from him?"
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Barnes added: "That's why I feel sorry for him - and Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood to a certain degree.
"Ronaldo and Fernandes dominate the attacking impetus of the team. Sancho would have been told that he's the future, but he's now a bit-part player. The Sancho signing wasn't necessarily a mistake. Maybe the Ronaldo signing was a mistake. How many main men do you want?
"Rather than having others who can compliment that. The balance of Manchester United isn't right."
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