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When reputation and cost-per-disappointing performance are factored in it’s hard to think of a bigger Premier League flop in recent years than Alexis Sanchez.
During his four seasons at Arsenal the Chilean wide-man was so often a one-man war of creativity; a devastating spree of pace and trickery.
Then, following a sustained period of disenchantment at the Emirates, along came a headline-grabbing move to Old Trafford whereupon Sanchez – brilliant, effervescent Sanchez – like magic, disappeared under an invisibility cloak.
In 2297 minutes for Manchester United the former Barcelona ace has scored three times and provided six assists and truthfully that doesn’t sound too horrendous. It’s bad certainly but it is also comparable to another United flop, Angel Di Maria, who scored three goals and made ten assists in 20 starts for the Reds.
The stats though do a serious disservice to Sanchez’s woefulness. They discount his anonymous displays. They overlook his habit of standing there, with his hands on his hips, impotent and sulky because five minutes earlier he tried a mazy run, got tackled and that’s him done now for the day.
They ignore too how much it is costing the club to house such ineptitude. Signed in what was initially simplified as a straight swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan his wages later came to light and shocked one and all. With bonuses and image right payments thrown in Alexis Sanchez ‘earns’ in the region of half a million quid a week. That’s £24m a year give or take the odd hundred grand.
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It only gets worse too. So poor has his form been since his switch north in January 2018 that lengthy stints on the sub’s bench duly followed and, in April of this year, a study concluded that the 30-year-old has amassed more wonga than any sub across the top flight, £5,232 per minute and £4,881,014 all told.
Such figures exasperate United fans but that is nothing to their despair at his underwhelming output, even allowing for a series of injury problems. After intense excitement over his transfer – manufactured in part by the Chilean’s piano playing prowess – the majority have been left pondering why his demise had to be so exquisitely aligned with a move to Old Trafford.
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Yet some hope has arisen of late, as unlikely and tentative as it is, and it’s come via the player’s showing at the Copa America for his country.
Two goals and an assist in the group stage preceded Chile’s quarter-final clash with Colombia on Friday and overall Alexis Sanchez looks to be transformed. With the score remaining goalless after 120 minutes, Sanchez stepped up in a tense penalty shootout to score the winning spot kick, sending the current holders into the semi-final of the competition.
Evidently, confidence and self belief are returning. The quick darting movement is back. The hunger too.
Given a wandering role up front as a second striker Sanchez has revelled in the freedom and been Chile’s most impactful player. He’s ‘on fire’ according to one United fan site. He is in the process of ‘rebuilding’ himself according to the Independent.
Some caution is required of course because not only are we talking about just a handful of games here, but Sanchez traditionally excels for his country whatever the circumstance – a return of 41 goals in 124 appearances serves to provide an insight into the extent of his importance.
But as the club struggle to move their white expensive elephant on the supporters will take some hope right now. Hope will do just fine.
Whisper it very quietly but their flop might yet turn good after all.