Former Chile Coach Makes Incredible Claim About Alexis Sanchez

The word "fat" is certainly not a word you would use to describe Alexis Sanchez but that's the exact phrase a former Chile coach has used when talking about the Arsenal star.

Sanchez was in line for a £60 million deadline day move to Manchester City, with it finally looking like he was on the move after months of speculation surrounding his future at the Emirates.

Image: PA

Arsenal were reported to have accepted the £55 million plus £5 million in add-ons offer from Premier League rivals City, but the Gunners failed in their move for Monaco's Thomas Lemar and Sanchez ultimately stayed put.

Just 30 minutes after the deadline passed, Sanchez took to the field for Chile against Paraguay and was unusually ineffective in a dismal 3-0 defeat for Juan Antonio Pizzi's men.

Image: PA

Sulantay, who managed both the Chile Under 17 and Under 20's sides in his managerial career, ripped into Sanchez in bizarre fashion.

Speaking to La Cuarta, via The Mirror, the Cobreloa boss said:

"I saw him gone, I saw him out of physical shape, totally. He's fatter than normal.

"Without his spark, he never left that Paraguayan defence behind. He never made a diagonal run, it was something else. It was not Alexis."

"This can bring you problems later, the statements of wanting to leave. The team-mates must have felt nothing for him."

Sanchez's collapsed move means he will now remain with Arsenal , who face Bournemouth in their next Premier League fixture.

City are expected to go back in for him in January but the former Udinese is said to be so incensed about being forced to stay in North London, rather than East Manchester, that he has told the club he never wants to play for them again, according to Goal.

Alexis Sanchez

_{Sanchez has been visibly unhappy at the team's performance in the past and Sunday's loss to Liverpool seems to have been the final straw. Image: PA}

Goal do say it's unlikely that he will follow through on his threat and will play again when the international period is over but things will have to be a little uneasy in the Arsenal camp.

It'll certainly be interesting to see/hear what the reaction to Sanchez is like once he joins up with his club teammates again.

Topics: Manchester City, Chile, Football, Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal

Josh Lawless

Josh is a writer who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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