As Henrikh Mkhitaryan moves on with his life in Rome, Alexis Sanchez’s future is still undecided but one thing is for sure – he has no home at Manchester United.
celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between SPAL and FC Internazionale at Stadio Paolo Mazza on July 16, 2020 in Ferrara, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
When we look back in a few decades, the Henrikh Mkhitaryan/Alexis Sanchez deal will be seen as one of the worst in footballing history.
There’s no doubt Arsenal got the better end of the agreement. Even if Mkhitaryan didn’t perform to the levels he’s shown in Italy, Arsenal managed to ship out a massive man-baby who was vastly overrated and didn’t end up stuck with him on massive wages alongside Mesut Ozil.
In a bid to trump Manchester City to Sanchez’s signing, Jose Mourinho threw as much money as he possibly could at the Chilean. As a result, with wages far in excess of those of Ozil at Arsenal, Alexis is having trouble finding a permanent home.
With just five goals in 45 appearances for United, Alexis has cost them £9m per goal because of his astronomical wages.
In total United have paid him £47.6m, as they continue to contribute 75% of his salary for him to play for Inter Milan.
“I welcomed Alexis Sanchez coming to the club. He was tenacious and a forward who could play anywhere across the line,” admitted Gary Neville on Sky Sports. “But he’s been an absolute disaster.”
Now 31, Alexis does not want to play in Manchester and Manchester doesn’t want him. Inter Milan wouldn’t mind signing him after four goals and 10 assists in 29 games, but they don’t want to pay £15m for him, nor be responsible for all of his wages.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no interest in playing him as he builds his squad around the youth of Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, so what next for Alexis?
Perhaps he could start again as a piano teacher…
Mkhitaryan, meanwhile, who will seal a permanent move to Roma, has scored nine and assisted six in his 29 games this season.