admin
UDINESE have made an offer to bring Alexis Sanchez back to Friuli, more than a decade after he left the club.
Sanchez, 35, spent five years at the Italian club after joining as a teenager. He left for Barcelona in 2011, though, before spells in England with Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Chilean international spent last season at Inter Milan after returning to the San Siro following a year with Marseille. He won Serie A, but only had a one year deal with Inter and is now a free agent.
Before his second Inter spell, Alexis reportedly contacted Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta over a potential return to North London. Now, though, it could be another old club taking him back.
The veteran is understood to be considering Udinese’s offer. Specifics over a deal are not clear, but fans who witnessed his first spell will have fond memories of his 21 goals in 112 outings during that first spell.
Towards the end of last season, there were suggestions Inter might look to keep the South American on board. It wasn’t to be, though, despite him impressing since the turn of the year.
Alexis registered two goals and five assists in Serie A last season, all in the second half of the season. The last of those goal contributions came in Inter’s final home game of the season, when he came off the bench to set up a late equaliser for Denzel Dumfries.
While Alexis waits to decide on his next move, his old Premier League employers have been busy. Arsenal have added Riccardo Calafiori to their ranks and sealed a permanent move for David Raya, while United have recruited Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro.
United could yet be forced into further additions after injuries to Yoro and to Rasmus Hojlund. However, manager Erik ten Hag indicated Jadon Sancho could be an option up front in a move reminiscent of Alexis’ switch from the wing to a striker role earlier in his own career.
“That’s what we can do if we don’t have the availability of Rasmus, but of course, Joshua Zirkzee, he’s coming in, he’s started training. But you also have to consider that he’s not so long in training, so that will take time, and he has to adapt to English football and our way of playing as well,” Ten Hag said during United’s pre-season tour. — Mirror.
Online Reporter