The High-Profile Swap That Brought Alexis Sánchez to Old Trafford
In January 2018, Manchester United beat out cross-town rivals Manchester City to secure the signature of Alexis Sánchez from Arsenal. The deal sent Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the opposite direction and instantly made the Chilean forward one of the highest-paid players in the English Premier League. According to widespread financial reports and club disclosures at the time, Sánchez signed a four-and-a-half-year contract reportedly worth around £350,000 per week, instantly shifting the wage structure inside the club’s dressing room.
Expectations reached a fever pitch upon his arrival. The club announced his signing with a memorable video of the forward playing the piano at Old Trafford, signaling the arrival of a marquee artist. Instead, the move proved to be an expensive tactical and cultural misstep that disrupted team chemistry and placed immense pressure on both player and successive managers.
Decline in Form and Just Five Premier League Goals
Despite his glittering track record with Arsenal, Barcelona, and the Chile national team, Sánchez looked a shadow of his former self almost from his first months under then-manager José Mourinho. The explosive acceleration and relentless pressing that defined his peak years rapidly gave way to visible fatigue and erratic form. In 45 total appearances across all competitions for Manchester United, Sánchez found the back of the net just five times.
His Premier League output stood at a meager five goals over 32 league matches. Injuries disrupted his rhythm, while tactical shifts under both Mourinho and later Ole Gunnar Solskjaer failed to carve out a coherent role for a forward who preferred to operate in spaces already occupied by other attackers. The staggering financial outlay contrasted sharply with his output on the pitch, turning his contract into a cautionary tale of recruitment.
The Loan Move to Inter Milan and Permanent Exit
By the summer of 2019, Manchester United sought to offload his wages and agreed to a season-long loan deal with Serie A side Inter Milan. While United subsidized a portion of his lucrative salary during the loan, the move offered Sánchez a chance to reset his career in Italy. He eventually made the transfer permanent in August 2020, terminating his contract with Manchester United ahead of schedule to facilitate the free transfer.
Reflecting on his time in Manchester during subsequent interviews, Sánchez admitted that he wanted to leave the club after his very first training session, citing a lack of unity and internal cohesion during a difficult transitional period for the squad.
The Legacy of the No. 7 Shirt Burden
Sánchez’s struggles underscored a broader curse that seemed to afflict Manchester United’s No. 7 shirt following Cristiano Ronaldo’s initial departure in 2009. Players like Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia, Ángel Di María, Memphis Depay, and later Jadon Sancho all grappled with the intense scrutiny attached to the jersey. While Valencia transitioned back to a different number after a solid run, and others departed under clouds of unfulfilled potential, Sánchez stands out due to the sheer financial and symbolic scale of the gamble.
As Manchester United continues to navigate its ongoing roster rebuild under Erik ten Hag and executive leadership, the club’s recent recruitment strategies have increasingly pivoted away from blockbuster, high-wage anomalies toward younger, more balanced profiles. Yet, the memory of the five-goal return from a player meant to spearhead a title challenge remains a defining chapter of modern Old Trafford folklore.
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