Lothar Matthaus has heaped praise on England’s latest teen sensation Jadon Sancho, calling him the ‘perfect footballer’.
The Borussia Dortmund star has been on a scintillating rise through the ranks of European football in the past few years, which is likely to culminate in a full England cap.
After leaving Manchester City for just £7million, Sancho has established himself as one of the brightest talents in world football.
Already this season, he has six league assists, has made his Champions League debut and earned a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s squad for the UEFA Nations League clashes with Croatia and Spain.
However, for those who have watched him develop from a young age this will come as no surprise. World Cup winning legend Lothar Matthuas revealed how the 18-year-old left him mesmerised.
Writing in his exclusive column for The Sun, he said: “The first time I saw Jadon Sancho he made me stand still. And that’s never happened before.
“It was when he was playing for the England Under-17s against Norway in the European Championships.
“I was in the gym, on the running machine, with the television on. But after 15 minutes I stopped running to watch it more closely.
“I would normally never do that. I am focused on my run. Yet I wanted to know more about this wonderful guy I’d seen playing.
“I didn’t know him at all, or who he played for, only his surname.
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“But from that moment I could see he was fantastic. I only needed to watch for 15 minutes to know. That was enough.
“He is a natural footballer, who loves to play on the left wing but has unbelievable talent.
“Sancho is a player who has everything. He has fantastic speed, great technique, a good eye for his colleagues and that key pass.
“Everything he does he pulls off at high speed at the right moment.
“For me he is a perfect player. The ability he has is instinctive, natural. You cannot teach that brilliance.
Sancho’s ascent to the top shows no sign of slowing down, with a slew of Premier League clubs reportedly interested in bringing the superstar back to England.
However, after making the bold decision to leave everything behind at such a young age, it would seem the forward is content to carry on his footballing education on the continent.
Such humility is exactly why 1990 Ballon d’Or winner Matthaus has urged the starlet to not rush, and carry on with his progression.
“What is clear is that he loves just playing football, loves the ball,” he continued. “He is not thinking about money, about the next Ferrari he can buy. He looks to have both feet on the ground.
“He arrived in Dortmund as a 17-year-old, leaving England for the first time. He was away from his home and family for the first time.
“Dortmund gave him time. Now, when he plays, he makes the difference and excites everyone.
“They bought him for only £7million. And they know that in three or four years time, when it is right for Sancho to move on, they will get an awful lot more than that.
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“For the next two years he should concentrate on getting into the Under-21 side, play games and learn about international competition.
“That is better for his development than going into the senior squad and sitting on the bench.”