Alexis Sanchez move to Manchester United has not been a complete success. In fact, it would be unfair to say it is looking like a poor move for everybody involved in the situation.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about how Sanchez’s arrival has changed the balance of the United team and not necessarily for the better.
However, I never thought about it from Sanchez’s perspective. The Chilean has scored just once in his last ten games and looks to be struggling to adapt to life at Manchester United. There are even reports in the media that suggest that Sanchez could be moved on this summer to make way for new arrivals.
Sanchez should be thriving at United
For much of his Arsenal career, Alexis Sanchez was this energetic, Duracell Bunny like figure that was a potential matchwinner. Even when his future was up in the air, Sanchez worked hard even if he was distracted by speculation.
That speculation is over and he has moved. We should now be seeing the same energetic forward who graced the Arsenal shirt in his first few years in the Premier League.
He should be thriving now that his future is settled. However, instead the Chilean looks like he just does not fit in at Old Trafford. As observers have said in the past, maybe his personality is not suited to United.
Not suited to Mourinho’s style
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is a winner. However, his style of play is enough to bore an insomniac to sleep. Even with attacking players at his disposal, his team just seems so lacklustre going forward at times.
Sanchez is a player who is accustomed to playing expansive football at Arsenal and Barcelona. He did not win much at the former, but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger allowed his players to express themselves, even if was a flawed attitude.
The January signing looks to be trying too hard and is struggling to adapt to the way that Mourinho likes to play football. For me, Mourinho and Sanchez would not be a pair I would naturally pair.
I have to admit that it was a major surprise to see Sanchez move to United in January and not decide to join Manchester City. The deciding factor was reportedly money, which is crazy considering the Chilean would not have been skint if he would have signed for Pep Guardiola’s club.
Sanchez seems to fit into Guardiola’s style of play more than Mourinho’s. That was the main cause of my surprise at the move.
Needs to change his mentality
Alexis Sanchez is currently away on international duty with Chile, who take on Sweden on Saturday in a friendly game that they are favourites at odds of 11/8.
However, reportedly Sanchez was ready pulled out of the Chile squad due to his recent struggles at Old Trafford. There have been some claims that Sanchez is very much a loner when it comes to his teammates.
He eats his lunch alone at United according to reports, although the forward did recently post a picture of himself eating with his Chilean teammates on international duty.
Arsenal accepted that Sanchez like to do his own thing, as he was a match winner and their star player for much of his time with the Gunners.
However, that Arsenal dressing room is renowned to be short of characters and winners. Being part of a Manchester United dressing room and a team run by Mourinho, there will be bigger demands on Sanchez to be part of the group.
If Sanchez wants to be a success at Manchester United, he will have to change his mentality. If that does not happen, I can see the Chilean’s Manchester United career being very short-lived.
