December 24th 2024.
The decision to leave Arsenal for Manchester United was one that the player would come to regret almost instantly. Despite a successful four years at Arsenal, scoring 80 goals and winning two FA Cup trophies, Alexis Sanchez couldn't resist the opportunity to join one of the most dominant teams in English football. So, in January 2018, he made the move to Old Trafford in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, wearing the iconic No. 7 shirt for Manchester United.
However, things didn't go as planned for Sanchez at his new club. Despite his excitement and the high expectations from fans, he underwhelmed on the field, scoring only five goals in 45 appearances. It was a far cry from his impressive performances at Arsenal. Eventually, he ended up joining Inter Milan, first on loan and then on a permanent transfer. Looking back on his move, Sanchez admitted that he didn't fully understand what he was getting into when he signed with Manchester United.
"I accepted the opportunity to go to United," Sanchez said. "It was a tempting offer and something that seemed like a good move for me. I had always loved this club since I was a kid, but I didn't ask for any information about what was happening inside the club. Sometimes, you don't realize things until you experience them firsthand. I remember my first training session with the team, and I realized a lot of things."
After that training session, Sanchez went home and immediately told his family and agent that he wanted to go back to Arsenal. But it was too late, he had already signed the contract and was committed to Manchester United. "After the first few months, I still had that feeling that something wasn't right," he added. "We were not united as a team, and it affected our performance on the field."
Sanchez also revealed that his confidence took a hit when he was left out of the Manchester United squad by then-manager Jose Mourinho. "In a game against West Ham, I wasn't picked," he said. "That had never happened to me before. It bothered me, and I couldn't believe it. To go from being one of the best players in the Premier League to not playing for five months, it was a tough blow for me."
Eventually, Sanchez returned to his former club Udinese on a two-year deal, but his time there has been plagued by recurring injuries, resulting in only one appearance so far. While his time at Manchester United may have been disappointing, Sanchez's talent and abilities were still recognized by his teammates. Jesse Lingard, in particular, praised Sanchez's skills on the training pitch and expressed his confusion as to why it didn't translate to success on the field.
"When I was playing, especially with Rom and Alexis, we just wanted to enjoy our football," Lingard said. "But something didn't click for us as a team. Is it the pressure? We managed to win some trophies under different managers, but it was difficult to maintain that success. It's like we were promised one thing, but it never really materialized."
In the end, Sanchez's move to Manchester United may not have worked out as he had hoped, but it's clear that he still has a lot of respect and admiration for the club and his former teammates. And while his time at Old Trafford may not have been his most successful, it's clear that Sanchez will continue to work hard and give his all on the field, no matter where he plays.
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