Manchester United have finally landed Alexis Sanchez on a four-and-a-half-year deal from Arsenal, ending the dragging saga behind the Chilean’s future.
Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in a rare swap deal in which Henrikh Mkhitaryan moved to the Emirates. The deal concludes the long-standing saga regarding the Chilean’s future and Manchester United believe they have got a great deal for a superstar player with Premier League experience.
? Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Introducing #Alexis7…#GGMU #MUFC @Alexis_Sanchez pic.twitter.com/t9RIIx4mE4
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 22, 2018
Alexis Sanchez’s future was deemed uncertain from the moment it was reported he refused to sign a new contract with Arsenal. The Gunners offered the Chilean a new contract midway through last season, but with the wages he and his agent had reportedly demanded as well from a sporting perspective, a deal with Arsenal looked dead.
Arsenal were firmly insistent the player was not for sale for the majority of the summer but accepted a £60 million bid from Manchester City on deadline day in August. Arsenal, having accepted City’s deadline day bid, pulled the plug after it emerged they would be unable to sign Monaco’s Thomas Lemar as a replacement for Sanchez.
Manchester United reacted positively to his availability in the January window after Arsenal seemingly lowered their stance on the player and indicated their willingness to sell him, as he only had six months left on his deal.
Manchester United were only a late entrant in the transfer circus surrounding the player, as neighbours, Manchester City until recently, were firm favourites to land the Chilean.
It was also reported that City had an agreement with the player, but with United offering more money in wages and agent fees, City pulled out of any possible deal in the January window, coupled with Arsenal’s demand of £35 million for a player in the last six months of his contract. Manchester City had reportedly bid only £20 million and were seemingly confident of his arrival.
Mourinho sensed an opportunity and took the player away from the clutches of his long-term rival, Pep Guardiola and City. Alexis Sanchez is officially a Manchester United player and the highest paid in Premier League history.
Soon after joining, Alexis Sanchez, speaking to the club’s official website expressed his pleasure at becoming a Manchester United player, he said, “I am thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world. I have spent three-and-a-half wonderful years at Arsenal and I bring with me very positive memories of that great club and its fans.
The chance to play in this historic stadium and to work with Jose Mourinho was something I could not turn down. I am very proud to be the first Chilean player ever to play for United’s first team and I hope I can show our fans all around the world why the club wanted to bring me here.”
Jose Mourinho further added his take on the player saying,“Alexis is one of the best-attacking players in the world and he will complete our very young and talented group of attacking players. He will bring his ambition, drive and personality, qualities that make a Manchester United player and a player that makes the team stronger and the supporters proud of their club dimension and prestige.
Alexis Sanchez is a masterclass signing for Manchester United and he is a player capable of taking them to new heights. As Arsenal are playing Europa League football this season, he is eligible to play in the knock-out rounds of the Champions League for United as well. The Chilean will try to boost the club’s slim hopes of catching Manchester City in the league, if the leaders are to lose more ground.
Sanchez will wear the famous No.7 shirt, previously adorned with superstars such as Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
