The Chilean winger is currently on loan at Inter but has suffered a tough few years since leaving Arsenal.
Alexis Sanchez still has the capability to become a key player for Manchester United, according to the forward’s former Chile trainer Juan Antonio Pizzi.
The 31-year-old combined United in January 2018 from Arsenal at a swap deal involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but he’s been unable to make a sustained effect at Old Trafford.
He scored just 3 goals in 32 Premier League appearances prior to being permitted to join Inter on a season-long loan deal last summer.
Sanchez has similarly fought at San Siro and he also spent three weeks out of action after undergoing a knee operation, while his just Serie A target against Sampdoria was accompanied by a red card in precisely the identical match.
However, Pizzi, who coached Sanchez and Chile to Copa America success in 2016, believes the die is not yet cast about the attacker’s United career if he can rediscover the form he exhibited during his successful span at Arsenal.
“Alexis was in an ideal place in Arsenal and suddenly he changes the city, trainer, team-mates, lovers [by linking Manchester United]; sometimes that adaptation happens immediately, sometimes it takes more,” Pizzi informed The Guardian.
“In Alexis’s instance, I believe it took too long. He didn’t appear to be able to join and emotionally he dropped. The consequences of that state of mind were interpreted in his or her performances.
“I don’t understand what destiny holds for him but I think that experience in Italy away from English soccer, might be helpful for him. I really hope so.
“I’m sure that if he will find tranquillity along with his form, he will be very essential for United.”
Current Chile trainer Reinaldo Rueda recently expressed his belief that Sanchez still has the capability to perform at the maximum degree.
“It’s been a traumatic, quite a tortuous year for him. Ever since his departure from Arsenal and also his first year at Manchester United,” Rueda told Sport.
“He came into the Copa America in Brazil and then had this poor luck with all the harm from the friendly against Colombia in Alicante. That loan to Inter was nearly thwarted and when he regained the pandemic came.
“I expect all this to maneuver fast because he is a fantastic professional, has a great attitude in training, and will maintain a high position for any club which provides him an opportunity. He has a lot of football yet to show at the top level”
Solskjaer said, “Alexis will return from the summer and will prove you all incorrect.”
