Emre Can has warned his Borussia Dortmund teammate Jadon Sancho he risks wasting his abundant talent unless he ‘grows up’.
The England international has enjoyed another reputation enhancing season in the Bundesliga, scoring 17 goals, including a first ever senior hat-trick against Paderborn last week, and registering 16 assists.
His rapid development has forced Dortmund to slap a £120million price tag on his head amid interest from the majority of Europe’s heavyweight clubs, including Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester United.
While he continues to turn heads with his performances on the field, Sancho has courted controversy off the pitch in recent months.
The 20-year-old was disciplined by his manager Lucien Favre back in October after he returned late to the club following an international break, while earlier this week he was fined by the DFL for breaking social distancing protocol after he had a haircut.
Sancho greeted that ruling with an outburst on social media, branding the judgement ‘an absolute joke’ but Can believes the youngster must learn to show more humility and avoid making unnecessary headline.
‘We know that he just has to be more disciplined in some things, but he knows that himself,’ the ex-Liverpool midfielder told Sky .
‘He just has to be smarter and grow up with things like that. He can’t afford to make such mistakes in the future.
‘You have to lead Jadon the right way. He’s a great boy, even off the pitch. He doesn’t do it on purpose to cause a scandal.
‘Maybe he trusts too many other people in some things.’
Can’s sentiments were echoed by Germany legend Lothar Matthaus who urged the senior players in Dortmund’s squad to take on additional responsibility and protect their star player.
He said: ‘If the club or the DFL cannot regulate [social distancing measures], then the players simply have to regulate it. There are such experienced players at Borussia Dortmund.
‘They have to take Sancho aside and say to him: ‘Listen, it doesn’t work! You hurt not only yourself, but you harm us, the club. Such things don’t belong in public right now!”
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