Alexis signed for Barca from Serie A side Udinese in 2011. Before that, he’d come through the ranks at Cobreloa were he’d scored just nine goals in 47 appearances.

Although he was an Udinese player from 2006 – 2011, he spent the first couple of years on season-long loan spells at Colo-Colo and River Plate.

Pep Guardiola was Barca manager when the Catalans signed him from Udinese in 2011 for a reported £23m (including £10m in bonuses).

At the time, Pep said, “Sanchez is very young. He can play in all three attacking positions, he shows intense defensive skills, he’s direct and from what I’ve been told, he’s a very nice kid.”

Alexis was young, just 22. Although not a ‘kid’ by footballing standards but we’ll get onto these semantics later.

The forward said that he’d signed for Barcelona to win titles, which he did in 2012/13, as well as the Super Cup in 2011, and other domestic competitions.

“I want to learn from players like (Lionel) Messi and Xavi – and I want to help the club win more titles,” he said.

Alexis had been named the world’s most promising youngster by FIFA the previous season, and had already been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I respect Cristiano Ronaldo; he’s a great player,” he said, reported the Daily Mail at the time. “But I don’t want to be compared to anyone.”

The forward also revealed that Pep had called him personally to ask him to come to Barca.

“He called me and that was very important for me – to know that he wanted me gave me confidence.”

It was clear that the Catalans were looking for a player who wasn’t quite the finished article but would be soon. One for the future. Not a player who fans were particularly excited about, but a player they could get excited by in a few year’s time.

All the cake batter was mixed, it just had to be put in the oven.

The cake, however, took a little longer to bake than Barca had perhaps anticipated.

During his first season, Alexis missed 59 days through injury. He played just 2,640 minutes over all competitions, averaging just 64 minutes per appearance, and scored 15 goals.

The second season wasn’t much better. Pep left and although Alexis only spent 21 days sidelined, and made a handful more appearances, he played 15 fewer minutes in total.

His third season was the one when people finally took notice. 21 goals and 17 assists in 54 appearances.

Alexis scored a 78th-minute goal in El Clasico; Barca’s second of the game, which ended up being crucial as Real Madrid scored in the 90th.

He earned a point for his team against Atletico Madrid on the final day of the season and only went 12 La Liga games all season without scoring or assisting.

Next – Why would Barca sell a player on the rise?