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Alexis Sanchez takes aim at his critics after signing £600,000-a-week deal as Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap is confirmed

Alexis Sanchez has completed his transfer to Manchester United where he will earn more than£500,000 a week and wear the No7 shirt - Manchester United
Alexis Sanchez has completed his transfer to Manchester United where he will earn more than£500,000 a week and wear the No7 shirt - Manchester United

Alexis Sánchez insisted he left Arsenal to win trophies and appeared to hit back at the critics who have branded him a “mercenary” as the Chile striker claimed he had realised a childhood dream after finally completing his move to Manchester United on Monday evening.

Sánchez, who will wear the No7 shirt at Old Trafford, has signed a 4½ year contract with United to June 2022 that is worth around £600,000 a week once a £20 million signing on fee, bonuses and image rights are factored in. It makes him comfortably the highest paid player in Premier League history.

Arsenal have signed the Armenia playmaker, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, from United in return, and although no cash was exchanged between the clubs in the swap deal, the Sánchez transfer is effectively worth £180 million once his £30 million valuation, payments to the player and a £10m fee to his agent, Fernando Felicevich, are accounted for. 

Manchester City had been the favourites to sign Sánchez before pulling out of the running after balking at the spiralling costs of the deal but the Chilean insisted he was joining “the biggest club in the world” and confirmed he had held talks with Sir Alex Ferguson about a move to United in 2011 before signing for Barcelona from Udinese.

Sánchez also said he had chosen to leave Arsenal for the “same reason” Thierry Henry quit the club for Barcelona in 2007, when the Frenchman signalled his desire to challenge for the biggest trophies, and took a parting shot at the former Arsenal players who have been critical of him.

Martin Keown described Sánchez as the “biggest mercenary in football” after accusing the player of turning down City and a reunion with Pep Guardiola, his coach at Barcelona, for money.

Sánchez had retweeted a newspaper article on Saturday which scoffed at the idea of the striker being a mercenary and Keown appeared to be one of the player’s targets as he paid what was otherwise an emotional farewell to Arsenal.

Quiero agradecer al Staff Técnico, al equipo médico, a todos los compañeros con los que compartí muchas cosas lindas para el club y en especial a todas esas personas que no se ven en las portadas, pero que sin ellos nada seria posible, que son los que te preparan la comida y te cuidan día día, los que nos mantienen los zapatos limpios y campos de fútbol en las mejores condiciones para entrenar. Mil gracias a Ustedes por ayudarnos a mejorar cada día. Gracias por tanto cariño ��. Hay personas (ex jugadores del club) que han hablado sin conocimiento de lo que ocurre en la interna y causan daño. Debo decir que siempre me entregué al 100%, hasta el último día, en que le pedí al Mister estar con el equipo, por que quería ser un aporte. Recuerdo hoy, una conversación que tuve con Henry, un histórico de Arsenal, que cambió de club, por la misma razón que hoy me toca a mi. Gracias por todo Gunners ! I want to say thanks to the Technical Staff, to the medical team and all teammates with whom I shared many nice things for the club and especially those people who do not see themselves on the covers, but without them nothing would be possible, which are there to prepare food for us and take care of us day by day, those who keep our shoes clean and the grass in the best conditions. Many thanks to you for helping us to improve every day. Thank you very much ��. There are people (former club players) who have spoken with no knowledge of what happens inside the club and cause damage. I must say I always gave 100%, until the last day, when I asked to the Mister to be in the team, because I wanted to be a contribution. I remember today, a conversation I had with Henry, a historic Arsenal player, who changed club for the same reason and today is my turn. Thanks for everything Gunners! All we achieved and the good moments that I gave to the club, I want to dedicate it to the fans, they are the most important. Thanks for every time you sing Alexis Sanchez Baby

A post shared by Alexis Sanchez (@alexis_officia1) on Jan 22, 2018 at 10:08am PST

“There are people (former club players) who have spoken with no knowledge of what happens inside the club and cause damage,” Sánchez said on Twitter in an apparent reference to Keown. “I must say I always gave 100%, until the last day, when I asked the Mister [Arsène Wenger] to be in the team, because I wanted to [make] a contribution.

“I remember today, a conversation I had with Henry, a historic Arsenal player, who changed club for the same reason and today is my turn. Thanks for everything Gunners! All we achieved and the good moments that I gave to the club, I want to dedicate it to the fans, they are the most important. Thanks for every time you sing Alexis Sánchez Baby.”

Sánchez, 29, who underwent a medical at United’s Carrington training ground on Sunday afternoon, distanced himself from suggestions City had been his preference and said the prospect of wearing the No7 shirt immortalised by the likes of Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo excited him.

 “Since I was a young lad I’ve always said that my dream was to play for Manchester United, and I’m not just saying that because I’m here now and today it’s come true,” said Sánchez, who spoke briefly with Ferguson at Old Trafford on Monday before travelling to Liverpool to have his work permit approved.

How would Alexis Sanchez fit in at Manchester United?

“I always said as a kid that I’d like to play for United and I once spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson about it. We chatted for around 20 minutes. And I told him that my dream was to come here to Manchester United. It really is a massive club, very powerful, and so now, when I got the opportunity to come here, I looked at the badge and my hairs just stood up on end because it’s a powerful club and the biggest in England.

Why Manchester United need Sanchez

“I believe that at this club it’s possible to achieve anything. The badge says it all, it’s a huge club on a worldwide scale, and I want to come here and win everything: the Premier League, the Champions League, and whatever comes the club’s way in the future. “When they told me that Cristiano, Cantona, David Beckham had all worn it, just thinking about that number seven sets you off dreaming in your head with ideas about lifting the Champions League trophy and winning the Premier League title. So yes, I’m fulfilling a dream and I hope to give my very best and win many trophies at this club.

“I think that the club always needs to be strengthening and bringing players in, and in this instance that’s why I’m here, to work hard for the team, and to try and win everything with them.”

Mourinho believes Sánchez’s experience and quality will prove a vital addition. “Alexis is one of the best attacking players in the world and he will complete our very young and talented group of attacking players,” said the United manager, who also wished Mkhitaryan well at Arsenal. “He will bring his ambition, drive and personality, qualities that make a Manchester United player and a player that makes the team stronger and the supporters proud of their club dimension and prestige.”

United’s capture of Sánchez is a coup, especially as rivals City had appeared in pole position to sign the player. City’s £60m deal for Sánchez had collapsed on transfer deadline day in August after Arsenal were unable to secure a replacement in time.

Arsenal Unveil New Signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan at London Colney - Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal Unveil New Signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan at London Colney Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

The Premier League leaders maintained their interest but ended up backing out of a deal last week over increased financial demands amid fears of destabilising the club’s wage structure. That paved the way for United, who had been secretly talking to Sánchez’s representative for several months and were prepared to meet the conditions Felicevich wanted.