Alexis Sanchez has joined Inter Milan on a free transfer after Manchester United ripped up the remaining two years of his deal.
The end of Sanchez’s Old Trafford nightmare was officially confirmed on Thursday as the 31-year-old signed a three-year deal to make his San Siro move permanent.
The Chilean has made his move to Serie A a permanent one after a disappointing spell at Old Trafford, with the 31-year-old having agreed to a pay-cut
Alexis And Manchester
The Chilean joined United from Arsenal in January 2018 but struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford, scoring just five goals in 45 appearances.
He would then head out on loan to Serie A side Inter last summer, with his resurgent form after the resumption of football amid the coronavirus pandemic leading to him becoming a key part of Antonio Conte’s plans.
United will not receive a fee for the Chilean and it is understood the club will have to pay the player a small sum for severing his contract early.
The former Barcelona winger’s deal with the Nerazzurri will run with Inter until 2023, with sources having told Goal that he has agreed to a pay-cut to secure a switch to San Siro.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who never had plans to get Sanchez back into the team, was complimentary when asked about the former Arsenal man after his side beat LASK in the Europa League on Wednesday night.
“I can confirm we have agreed [a deal for Sanchez to leave]. Alexis enjoyed his time there, they have liked him so that’s a good move for him,” he said.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer addressed Sanchez’s move following United’s win over LASK in the Europa League on Thursday, saying: “They’ve liked him, so of course that’s a good move for him.
“Wish him all the best. He’s a top player that we want to see play his best football. For whatever reason we didn’t see the best of Alexis, but he’s a top professional and we just wish him all the best.”
Alexis And Inter
Sanchez started life at Inter slowly, in part due to injury, but he was one of their most impressive performers after the restart, scoring three goals and assisting seven more as Inter secured second place in Serie A.
Sanchez’s move to Inter means United’s iconic No 7 shirt is once again available.
Incidentally, that is also the number worn by Jadon Sancho, who United are keen to sign from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
Speaking in August 2019 upon his move to Inter Milan, Sky Sports’ Gary Neville was brutal in his assessment of the Chilean’s time at Old Trafford:
I thought he would be a forward who would play all across the line, who scored goals and was tenacious, but Sanchez has been an absolute disaster. I have no idea what’s happened to him. There must be two of them. No one could have foreseen the disaster that was about to happen with Alexis Sanchez.
I don’t know what happened to him. That wasn’t the Alexis Sanchez that played at Arsenal. He wasn’t old when United signed him. He’d been proven. We knew United would get only a couple of years out of him, I know his wages were massive.
“But my point is, no one could have foreseen how bad he would be for the club.”
What Went Down At Manchester?
This was no slow decline. Sanchez had been named Arsenal’s player of the year just eight months prior to joining United but proceeded to struggle from the outset. Burnout was offered as an explanation but after his first summer off in years his form deserted him entirely.
‘How did one of the Premier League‘s most exciting players become its biggest bust?’
Manchester United are still hoping to secure a deal for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho – but are determined not to be bullied into a fee.
Dortmund have not moved from their €120m (£108m) valuation of the England international, but seem to be open to accepting less money up front.
German football expert Raphael Honigstein told the latest Transfer Talk podcast: “There’s absolutely no doubt he would be a huge improvement on what they have, especially if you think of the traditional importance of width in the United team. Wingers that would get the crowd excited and those who take on players, whip in crosses and score themselves – all these things Sancho will do.
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