Manchester United finally get their man!

Alexis Sanchez has been the name on everybody’s lips this season. The highly rated Chilean international has amounted mass transfer speculation from all across the board, with many expecting the 29-year-old attacker to join Pep Guardiola down at Manchester City.

 

The bolshie South American has since distanced himself with that big money move to the Etihad, opting instead to join Manchester United in an even bigger money move, as the Red Devils seek to challenge City among the upper echelons of the Premier League table.

 

I want to clarify that Henry never told me to leave the club, it was a personal decision … he LOVES the club and someday it would be nice to see him as the arsenal coach because he loves the club …

— Alexis Sánchez (@Alexis_Sanchez) January 24, 2018

 

To many, it seems as if Sanchez is simply moving for the money. The Chilean is expected to earn considerable amounts of cash whilst plying his trade at Old Trafford, more than he could have at Manchester City, despite the notoriously well-stocked resources on offer behind the scenes at the Etihad.

 

Sanchez is potentially sacrificing his all-important chance to land the Premier League title by moving to United. In choosing not to move to City and help Pep Guardiola dominate the English game for some time yet to come, the former Arsenal man is making a rather bold choice indeed.

 

I know I don’t need to explain this to the majority of Arsenal fans but contrary to speculation at no time did I tell Alexis Sanchez to leave Arsenal. I had no idea he was going to sign for Man Utd until I saw it on the news like the rest of you.

— Thierry Henry (@ThierryHenry) January 23, 2018

 

That said, perhaps Alexis Sanchez represents the perfect catalyst to help kick-start Mourinho’s upcoming title quest. If performances begin to improve perennially at Old Trafford between now and the end of the season, the ongoing Premier League title race may yet heat up dramatically.

 

Alongside the likes of Anthony Martial, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, and of course the £75 million rated Romelu Lukaku – Sanchez has more than enough potent tools at his disposal. Many consider his already promising potential to have increased significantly on the back of this latest transfer.

 

Morning, #MUFC fans! How are you feeling today? ?#Alexis7 @Alexis_Sanchez pic.twitter.com/q6us1lierP

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 23, 2018

 

Mourinho has been heavily criticised this season for failing to produce entertaining performances on a regular and frequent basis. Despite the endless pots of gold that have been thrown around at Old Trafford in recent transfer windows, Manchester United have struggled to wholeheartedly impress, keen only on grinding out results and frustrating the opposition.

 

United were previously slipping behind their local rivals at a dangerously perilous rate – but now, with none other than Chile’s Alexis Sanchez finally involved among the first-team set up – the Red Devils can begin to look forward with more genuine positivity in mind.

 

Looking at City’s potential signings, it’s concerning that they all look like young talents with world class potential and longevity. Utd have signed players of good ages (Pog, Lukaku, Bailly) but with Matic and Sanchez, I think we need to look at a similar strategy this summer.

— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) January 24, 2018

 

In truth, Manchester United have been crying out for some much-needed creativity all season long. They have looked largely ineffective whenever Paul Pogba has been missing from the action, whilst the likes of Romelu Lukaku and the outgoing Henrikh Mkhitaryan have failed to deliver consistently and effectively.

 

Although it will take more than just a few well-placed transfers among the January window to eventually pip Manchester City to the post, Mourinho’s Red Devils must now be seen as serious title contenders with their newly acquired South American aiming to impress at Old Trafford.

 

? Alexis Sanchez career backwards is incredible:

He went from dabbing with Jesse Lingard, to linking up with Mesut Özil… To finally playing with the GOAT, Leo Messi. pic.twitter.com/ur0zUAI4fz

— Football Tweets (@FutballTweets) January 24, 2018

 

Alexis Sanchez will arguably prove the ideal signing for Manchester United. Not only have the Red Devils strengthened their own position in bringing the 29-year-old on board, but they have also effectively destabilised Arsenal in the process, whilst damaging City’s chances of completely dominating the English game in the near future.

 

In terms of those dejected Gunners supporters down at the Emirates, the sight of Alexis Sanchez wearing a Manchester United shirt at Old Trafford must bring back painful memories of a certain Dutchman committing the exact same deed all those years ago. Some things never change, eh?

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