Manchester United finally announced the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal on Monday afternoon, with the Chilean joining the Red Devils in a deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move in the opposite direction.
Much has been made of Sanchez’s wage, and just how much money the Chilean will earn between now and June 2022 - when his new deal will expire. United have again topped the table of the world’s 20 richest football clubs, however, and the simple fact is that the attacker’s weekly packet is a mere drop in the ocean.
The deal was a no-brainer. Sanchez scored 80 times in 165 appearances for Arsenal between 2014 and 2018, while he netted 47 goals during his three seasons with Barcelona having made the move to Camp Nou from Udinese.
The 29-year-old won two FA Cups with Arsenal, but he wants the big trophies. He wants the chance to challenge for the Champions League, and despite playing for Arsenal in the Europa League earlier this term, will be eligible to represent United in the Champions League in the final stages of the 2017-18 campaign.
Jose Mourinho’s side topped Group A on 15 points to book their spot in the round of 16, and they only conceded three times in their six group matches. Second-placed United also have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season – shipping just 16 goals in their 24 matches.
They have not actually conceded a single goal in 2018, and in Mourinho, have a manager that knows what it takes to win the Champions League. There was the shock of Porto’s triumph in 2004, before landing the 2010 crown with unfancied Inter Milan. He was perhaps better placed to land the trophy with Chelsea or Real Madrid, but Mourinho’s success in the European Cup came with the underdog.
It is difficult to brand 20-time English champions United underdogs, but according to the bookmakers, the Red Devils do not have a genuine chance of landing the crown this season. Manchester City are the favourites, with Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid making up the top five.
In fact, according to the bookmakers, Liverpool are more likely to win the Champions League this season than United. That does seem staggering when taking into account a number of factors, and Mourinho could well take this team somewhat under the radar to challenge for Europe’s biggest crown.
The arrival of Sanchez will undoubtedly boost United’s chances of success in the Champions League. He is the type of player that could turn a tight match, and one that would strike fear into the hearts of the biggest teams in the competition.
Not many opposition managers would relish taking on a front three of Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial. Star pupil Paul Pogba’s influence is also growing, and with respect to Arsenal, there is every reason to feel that Sanchez will grow into a better player at United. At 29, he still has plenty of time on his side.
Sanchez has scored 12 times and registered 16 assists in his 46 previous appearances in the Champions League – including six goals and 10 assists in his last 15 matches at this level, which is some return.
Martial’s brilliant form in recent weeks suggests that the former Arsenal forward might not play too often down the left, while Lukaku’s presence in the final third means that Sanchez will not see too much regular action as a central striker.
"I really like to play down the left, through the middle, but to tell you the truth, as long as I'm playing football, I'll fit in anywhere!" Sanchez told MUTV following his arrival at the Theatre of Dreams.
Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata currently hold the positions alongside Martial, but there is no question that Sanchez is capable of operating in the hole behind Lukaku, or indeed drifting off the right. Top players can play anywhere, with Lionel Messi proving as much this season when dropping into the number 10 area.
There will be occasions – particularly in the Champions League – where Mourinho will go with either a 3-4-3 formation or 4-3-3, and Sanchez would be perfect for one of the areas either side of Lukaku. His tenacity, work-rate and all-action style fit perfectly into what Mourinho is trying to achieve at United.
"I love playing in any of the three attacking positions but I feel a little more comfortable out on the left because it allows me to take on the opposing full-back and cut inside and shoot with my right foot,” Sanchez said in an interview back in 2014 "It's easier for me to shoot that way but to be honest, I'm just happy to be playing wherever I am fielded by the boss.”
It is just under a month until United travel to Sevilla for the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League, before hosting the inconsistent La Liga outfit in the return on March 13. The former Europa League winners deserve respect, but should be dispatched by United, which would earn them a spot in the final eight.
It is seven years since United were present in the Champions League final, and four years since they reached the quarter-finals. To be blunt, United – for all of their prestige – have not been taken too seriously in this competition since Sir Alex Ferguson departed.
Sanchez makes United contenders for the crown this season. The Red Devils will need a good draw and a lot of luck along the way, but Mourinho now has the attacker that he wanted last summer. Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic was discussed, but Sanchez is the one that has pitched up in the January transfer window.
Sanchez’s debut for United should come against League Two side Yeovil Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday night, but the attacker will be looking to inspire his new team to Champions League glory this season. Mourinho has a number of players dancing to his tune at the moment, and the arrival of his new Chilean superstar makes this team a force in the European game.
