Man Utd thought Alexis Sanchez would replicate Barcelona and Arsenal form (Image: GETTY)
Manchester United believe Alexis Sanchez struggled at the club because it was too big for him - despite playing for Barcelona and Arsenal before his move to Old Trafford.
The Chile international made a blockbuster switch to Manchester from Arsenal back in January 2018, moving in a straight swap that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move in the opposite direction.
Many at the time thought the Red Devils had struck gold and landed a player capable of closing the gap on Manchester City.
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His best form of his career came during his time at Arsenal, however.
Sanchez was simply breathtaking during his spell in north London, blitzing 80 goals from just 166 appearances during his three-and-a-half years at the club.
And it was that sort of form that prompted United into paying him £400,000-a-week.
However, Sanchez never looked comfortable during his 18 months at the club and, ultimately, was offloaded to Inter on loan back in the summer.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville recently expressed his surprise at seeing Sanchez struggle at Old Trafford.
"We’ve watched Alexis Sanchez before during his years at Arsenal, he’s tenacious, a goalscorer, giving his all every single minute of every game,” Neville said on Sky Sports.
"No-one could have foreseen the disaster that was about to happen with Alexis Sanchez.
“I don’t know what happened to him.
"That wasn’t the Alexis Sanchez that played at Arsenal.
"He wasn’t [really] old when United signed him. He’d been proven.”