Why playing overseas won't work for every English talent

Former Charlton and Chelsea left back Scott Minto has warned young English players against following Jadon Sancho’s lead and playing overseas just for the sake of it.

The 18-year-old England winger has been thriving for Borussia Dortmund since leaving Manchester City last season and his success has prompted calls for fellow starlets to follow his lead.

Teenagers Phil Foden, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Bobby Duncan at Liverpool have all been linked with moves away from the Premier League.

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But Minto, who spent 18 months in Lisbon playing for Portuguese giants Benfica, told The Football Show that it’s taken far too long for English players to leave the Premier League.

“I think it’s great we’re seeing English guys going abroad,” he said.

“I don’t think we see enough of it, there’s so much money in the Premier League that you can be an average player and earn a lot more in England than you would abroad.”

“So in many respects, why would you go abroad?”

However, Minto warned against it being a one-size fits all solution for young players who have found their way blocked at Premier League clubs.

“But you’ve got to be emotionally right, you’ve got to be mature enough to be able to go abroad and live that lifestyle,” he added.

“I think what Jadon’s done is absolutely fantastic. He’s such a youngster and for him to be going to Germany and actually doing really well, shows [his] maturity that I didn’t have at his age.

“I would always say to people to go abroad because it rounds you as a person as well as a player but you have to do it at the right time. For every one of Sancho, who has done well, there are three or four have gone abroad and haven’t done well.”