German football legend Lothar Matthaus recently shared a story about Jadon Sancho that left him in awe. In May 2017, while representing England’s U17 team, Sancho caught Matthaus’ attention and made him pause his workout for the first time in his life. Sancho, who was playing as a winger for Manchester United at the time, showcased his talent during a match against Norway at the U17 European Championship. Alongside his teammates Marc Guehi, Phil Foden, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, Sancho contributed to a 3-1 victory. England went on to win the U17 Euros that year, with Sancho being named the tournament’s best player.
Matthaus, a World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner in 1990, was so impressed by Sancho’s performance that he couldn’t help but stop his gym session to watch him play. He recalled watching the game on Eurosport and being captivated by Sancho’s skills on the left wing. This was a rare occurrence for Matthaus, as he usually prefers to finish what he starts.
After the match, Matthaus inquired about Sancho’s background and learned that he was part of Manchester City’s academy. Not long after, Sancho completed a transfer to Borussia Dortmund for £8 million. At Dortmund, Sancho established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards, alongside players like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
Matthaus shared his excitement with a friend, predicting that Dortmund would make millions from signing Sancho. Four months later, his prediction came true as Sancho officially joined Borussia Dortmund.