The Downfall of Alexis Sanchez: What happened to the former Gunner?

One of the most renowned footballers of all time, Alexis Sanchez is seen nowhere. The die-hard fans of the player are still wondering what happened to the Chile international ever since his move away from Arsenal. In this article, we shall cover the downfall of Alexis Sanchez. 

What initiated the downfall of a player who featured and starred under Arsene Wenger? Where did he falter in making the decision on his career? We shall look at data and delve deep into how the player fell from the top of the mountain. 

The downfall of Alexis Sanchez: The Past

Rising through the ranks of Cobreloa, Alexis Sanchez grew up to become the dish player during his tenure with Udinese. He became an important member of the Udinese, the Italian outfit. In his third season with Udinese, he helped the team to finish fourth in the Serie A with 19 G/A in 31 games. He was never signed by the club on a permanent basis in his first two seasons.  

In the 2011/12 summer transfer window, Barcelona lured the player away from Italy to Spain. He was signed for a sum of €26 million. At Camp Nou, he helped Barcelona to win two Spanish Super Cups and a La Liga title as well. During his term at Camp Nou, he scored 42 goals and assisted 27 times in 114 games across all competitions. 

The downfall of Alexis Sanchez: What happened after his move to Arsenal?

The pressure was rising on Arsenal and Arsene Wenger at Emirates. The fans were unhappy due to the lack of trophies. The team was failing to win the top flight title. Arsene Wenger decided to spend the money on a right-winger and got Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona. The Premier League outfit spent €42.5 million to secure the services of the Chilean international. 

At Arsenal, Sanchez became the hero. He had the best numbers in the league. He scored 79 goals and 40 assists in just 163 games across all competitions. However, a disagreement broke between him and the club. He did not agree to a new contract offered by the Gunners despite agreeing verbally. The club officials later spelled it out. 

The contract team drafted the new contract and sent it over to the lawyers representing Sanchez and in that space of time, while the documents were being proofed, he changed his mind for whatever reason. We don’t know who got to the player, or why he changed his mind. But the bottom line was, he did. 
(Via: Standard)

After the disagreement, the club swapped Alexis with Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Manchester United. People felt both parties were happy with the deal. But nobody knew what was coming. The downfall started at Old Trafford. After a dismal half of the season at Old Trafford in the 2017/18 season, the game time of Sanchez drastically dropped from 36 starts in 2016/17 season to nine starts in 2018/19 season.

The downfall of Alexis Sanchez: The Present

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decided to move the player away from Manchester United and let him leave the club for free. He joined Inter Milan and he tried to rejuvenate his career with Antonio Conte. At Inter Milan, the goal tally rose but the game time reduced drastically for the player. From having 30+ starts a season, the player barely touches half the starts now. Moreover, the injuries have hindered the 32-year-old’s progress.

When his national team needed him the most in the COPA America, he failed to even appear due to injury. In the competition, the team struggled a lot without their star player.

It is sad to see a player of stature like Alexis Sanchez struggling for a gametime. Moreover, the barren run in front of the goal is something that is still harder to digest. With still more than two prime years left in him, can he turn the tide?

Read more: Sheriff Tiraspol manager lashes out at Dirk Kuyt after pulling off a stunning victory against Real Madrid in the Champions League

Stay Updated!

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW