Revealed: Alarming amount Jadon Sancho has cost Man United as he heads for exit, fan’s plea for answers over alleged assault during sit-in protest and why Aston Villa game could be pivotal for summer transfer window – Man United Confidential

It is now nearly a year since a Manchester United fan claimed he was assaulted by stewards during a sit-in protest following a goalless draw with Manchester City in April 2025, and it is still unclear if any action will be taken.

Video footage of the incident shows the supporter being confronted by a number of staff in Section 235 of the East Stand. After a few minutes of tense exchanges, the fan alleges that he was grabbed around the neck and wrestled to the ground where he says he was stamped on, kicked, punched and kneed.

The 49-year-old, who has told Confidential that he wants to remain anonymous for now, says that he still has blurred vision in his right eye, and also suffered swelling on his head and pain in his right leg that took weeks to heal.

‘I am dismayed that GMP’s investigation of the assault against me is taking so long,’ says the fan, who has enlisted the help of his local MP. ‘The fact that those responsible are not being held to account only goes to show the level of seriousness they have given me. My faith in the police is at zero.’

Greater Manchester Police say the investigation is ongoing and a file will be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service when it’s complete to decide if any charges will be brought. United have said they cannot comment while the police are still investigating, and Controlled Solutions Group – the Manchester-based firm that provides security on matchdays at Old Trafford – have directed all inquiries to the club.

The sit-in protest was organised as a show of opposition to the Glazer family’s ownership of United and the club’s ticketing policy. Almost a year later, after another five per cent rise in season-ticket prices and confirmation that another 600 fans are set to be moved from the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand to make room for hospitality seating, the discontent hasn’t gone away – and the investigation goes on.

Martinez set to miss Villa

Lisandro Martinez is expected to miss United’s crucial top-four clash with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday after taking longer than initially hoped to recover from a calf strain.

Martinez was only expected to miss one game having picked up the injury in training after last month’s 1-1 draw at West Ham, but the United defender has already been out for three matches and is likely to miss at least one more.

Sources insist the problem isn’t too serious, but Martinez suffered a slight reaction in training and it was decided to take a more cautious approach with his recovery.

Villa arrive at Old Trafford on Sunday level on points with United, having been hunted down by Michael Carrick’s side after a wobble that has seen them win one of their last six league games. Both teams sit three points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for the Champions League places.

United want to avoid a similar situation with Martinez to Matthijs de Ligt, who hasn’t played since the end of November due to a back injury. The Dutchman was expected to return to action in December, but is still working his way back to fitness three months later.

Martinez featured in the first episode of United’s new Barbershop series on Monday, in which he was asked by stylist Cal Newsome about a framed photo of him on the wall of the salon at Carrington with his hair brushed forward.

‘I didn’t find the style, the haircut, that can suit me,’ said Martinez after Newsome had combed his hair back. ‘I was injured in that moment bro!’

United are hoping to avoid Lisandro Martinez (right) suffering the same recovery delays as Matthijs de Ligt (left), who has not played since November

Cops skip Maguire trial

The Harry Maguire court saga is finally drawing to a close, and Confidential understands even some of the key figures at the heart of the case seemed to be losing interest by the end.

Only one of the plain-clothed police officers who alleged that they were assaulted by Maguire and his co-defendants turned up at the Greek Criminal Appeal Court on the island of Syros last Wednesday to see the United defender be found guilty of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery following his retrial nearly six years after a brawl on a family holiday in Mykonos. Maybe they doubted it would even go ahead after four previous postponements.

Maguire was handed a suspended sentence of 15 months and 20 days – six months fewer than the original punishment before he appealed in August 2020 – and a £1,300 fine.

The 33-year-old, who turned down offers to pay £43,500 to settle the case out of court, can challenge the ruling on points of law but cannot appeal his conviction again.

£138m Sancho bill

Jadon Sancho will be a notable absentee when Villa visit on Sunday, with the on-loan United winger ineligible for the game against his parent club.

Sancho will say goodbye to United when his contract runs out on June 30 at the end of what has been a very costly move for the club since they signed him from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021 – at the time making him the second-most expensive English player in history behind Maguire.

As well as the £73million transfer fee, a five-year contract worth £250,000-a-week means that United have committed £138m to signing Sancho. Speaking a year ago today, Sir Jim Ratcliffe revealed that the club still had to pay the final £17m instalment of his transfer fee to Dortmund last summer.

United have been able to recoup some of the money spent on Sancho since he fell out with manager Erik ten Hag in summer 2023, effectively signaling the start of the end of his United career.

Jadon Sancho has already played more games for other teams (90) than United (83) since joining them for £73m in 2021, having fallen out with Erik ten Hag and gone out on three loans

Dortmund paid a £3m loan fee rising to a maximum of £6.5m based on appearances and the team’s success, as well as covering most of his wages, in January 2024. 

Chelsea paid half of his wages for last season’s loan and a £5m penalty last summer rather than the £20-25m obligation to buy him when the Blues finished in the top 14 of the Premier League. And Villa paid a loan fee and 80 per cent of his wages this season for his third loan.

For their £138m, United have seen Sancho play more times for other clubs than themselves since he joined five years ago. The 25-year-old has 12 goals and six assists in 83 appearances for United, and nine goals and 14 assists in 90 games on loan.

Cut-price Reds

After it emerged that United still owe £422m in transfer fee instalments – with £238m due within a year – it was interesting to see the results of a new survey which puts United sixth in a table of the Premier League’s most valuable teams with a squad price of £625.7m.

The Arsenal squad is valued almost four times higher at £2.2billion, with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and – surprisingly – Tottenham all ranking above United in the study commissioned by BetVictor UK. Based on statistics from Transfermarkt, it ranks teams by total squad value while also examining average player value, average age and each club’s most valuable player.

It again demonstrates the importance of United qualifying for the Champions League – that Villa clash is looking more and more important by the day – which would increase United’s transfer budget in the summer and enable the club to offer targets the chance to play on the biggest stage.

It would be the difference between going for players in the £70-80m bracket like Nottingham Forest’s central midfielder Elliot Anderson and RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, or options closer to £40m like Bournemouth duo Tyler Adams and Marcus Tavernier.

Carrick’s streets ahead

Michael Carrick might have his hands full turning United’s season around these days, but it didn’t stop the head coach from showing up at his weekly Street Reds session at Old Trafford Sports Barn on Monday night.

Carrick runs the free sessions in conjunction with his foundation and the Manchester United Foundation on Mondays and Fridays. The 44-year-old typically makes an appearance about once a month, and Carrick spent a couple of hours across two sessions on Monday with a hundred youngsters ranging from 10-15 years old.

The Street Reds programme, which is run at multiple venues across the North West in partnership with the club’s foundation, gives young people aged 8-18 the chance to play and coach football, learning new skills in a positive environment.

Reds’ copyright clampdown

United are clamping down on breaches of copyright, with one prominent social media account covering the club’s academy revealing that it has been hit with a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) strike for using youth-team match footage from MUTV. A DMCA strike can lead to the account being suspended or having its content removed.

United are taking a tougher stance on offenders, although sources say DMCA strikes are automatically triggered when excess footage is used, and it is not a case of the club targeting specific accounts.

Kai signs with super-agent

In another move that suggests Kai Rooney is following in the footsteps of his famous dad, the 16-year-old has signed with the Triple S Sports agency, which is part-owned by Wayne’s long-time agent Paul Stretford.

The company posted on X on Tuesday: ‘Delighted to announce the signing of @kairooney.10 to Triple S Sports! We’re excited to begin working with the Manchester United forward as he continues his journey in the game. A bright future ahead. Welcome to the team, Kai!’

Rooney Jnr underlined his potential again last week when he scored in extra time to seal a 3-1 win for United over West Ham in the Under 18s Premier League Cup, and send Darren Fletcher’s side through to the final against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on April 22.

Kai Rooney (centre) has signed with Triple S Sports, the agency part-owned by his father’s long-time agent, Paul Stretford

United Women’s shot at glory

The United women’s team will be hoping to exact swift revenge on Chelsea and lift the League Cup for the first time in the club’s history when the two teams meet again at Ashton Gate on Sunday.

Marc Skinner’s side’s last game was a 2-1 extra-time defeat by Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round, but they can make amends in the first game after the international break.

United, who beat Tottenham and Arsenal to reach the League Cup final, are bidding to become only the fourth team after Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City to lift the trophy since its inception in 2011. The match is live on BBC One and Sky Sports.

Book appeal

Fans going to Sunday’s game against Villa at Old Trafford are being asked to donate new or good quality books for primary school children at designated locations around the stadium.

It is part of the children’s book appeal which is being hosted by the Manchester United Foundation throughout March, encouraging fans, staff and players to donate books to children in need. Working with national charity the Children’s Book Project, the books will be sorted and distributed to partner primary schools of the foundation.

Fans can also donate at the foundation office on Sir Matt Busby Way during office hours, 9am-5pm, Monday to Fridays, or at the women’s Manchester derby on March 28.