Alexis Sanchez has opened up on his decision to join Manchester United in 2018, picking the reds ahead of Manchester City, saying a phone call from Jose Mourinho and promise of the number seven shirt turned his head towards Old Trafford.
Sanchez joined United from Arsenal, despite strong interest from City, but would struggle during his two-year spell and spent his second season on loan at Inter Milan. Now the Chilean has reflected on how close he was to joining City, and how Mourinho changed his mind from reuniting with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.
Sanchez also claimed that had he joined City, he could have stayed for longer, and helped them win the 2021 Champions League final when they fell at the last hurdle against Chelsea.
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Speaking to La Tercera, he said: "I don't regret going to United. Things happen for a reason. I would have liked to have gone to City, yes. We would have won the Champions League by now. In the final I would have done something."
Discussing how his move to United came about, Sanchez first explained how Guardiola was playing an active role in trying to sign him for City.
"I was about to go to City," he said. "I spoke to Guardiola every day, he told me happy birthday. He was like my dad. He was my dad at Barcelona and he was like my dad at City. We talked, we talked every day, he sent me messages. And everything was ready, there was a player who was going to go to Arsenal.
"Then [Arsene] Wenger tells me you are not leaving because the other player did not want to come and they do not have another. Suddenly the cell phone rings. Mourinho tells me: 'Alexis, here is the seven [shirt] available for you.'
"It wasn't a money thing, so everyone knows. It was the same with United and City. And he said to me here is the seven, we are playing in the Champions League and we are going to give everything. I wanted to leave at that moment, but I had Guardiola's word.
"That's when I said to myself, Chilean footballer playing for Manchester United, something that has never happened. With the seven of Cantona, Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and now a Chilean had it, it was a dream."
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