Alexis Sanchez: Manchester United Target South American ‘Wonderboy’ to Replace Ronaldo
Reports suggest that Manchester United may well be preparing for life after Cristiano Ronaldo with a double swoop on two of the brightest South American starlets in world football…Argentina’s Sergio Aguero and Chile’s Alexis Sanchez. However, of the two players in question it’s Sanchez who would be the like for like replacement for the Portuguese star.
Alexis Alejandro Sanchez Sanchez may not be a household name in England but he is extremely highly regarded in South America. He is known as ‘El Nino Maravilla’ which translates as the ‘Wonder Boy’. Just like Ronaldo this lad is blessed with an abundance of talent as well as an array of tricks the two times PFA Player of the Year would be proud of. Despite his tender age, the 20-year-old has already played for 3 different clubs not including the side (Udinese) that he’s been owned by for the past two seasons.
The Youngster began his career with Chilean side Cobreloa where he made a total of 40 League appearances whilst scoring 9 goals before Italian outfit Udinese signed him for a fee of $3 million. He was then immediately loaned out to Colo-Colo who paid Udinese nearly $150,000 for his services for both the 2006 Clausura (closing) championship and the 2007 Apertura (opening) championship of which they won both. The Chilean teenager scored 5 goals in 27 League games for the club (23 starts) as well as bagging a hat-trick in a Copa Libertadores match with Venezuelan side Caracas. His next stop after Colo-Colo was a loan move to River Plate in Argentina.
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The teenager’s spell in Argentina had been an impressive one as he helped the club to the 2008 Clausura title. Sanchez scored 4 League goals in 28 appearances (18 starts) leading to a huge growth in his reputation back in Chile and in South America in general. He is tipped to be the next Chilean grown player to become a global star like Ivan Zamarano and Marcelo Salas before him. In Argentina, he has topped popularity polls above the distinguished likes of Boca Juniors star Juan Roman Riquelme which is no mean feat.
There are doubts over the player’s ability to withstand the physical nature of the western leagues as he is slightly built and stands at 5 ft 7. However, this has seen him likened to Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and any comparison with arguably the best player in the world right now is high praise indeed.
Sanchez has already won 22 caps for his country despite his tender age and scored 7 goals. In fact, the youngster had already broken into his national side aged 17. He was highly impressive in Chile’s short tour of Europe prior to the 2006 World Cup where he performed against the Republic of Ireland, the Ivory Coast and Sweden earning many plaudits.
The ‘wonder boy’ returned to Udinese last summer to finally compete for a spot in their side. Despite this, the club reportedly rejected an enquiry from the Red Devils for the £12m rated star with Sports Director Pietro Leonardi making the club’s position clear. He was quoted as saying at the time, “All the players in the current squad are part of the project for the start of the season and Sanchez is in the plans of coach Marino”.
Just a few days ago Udinese president Gasparin reiterated the clubs standpoint when he told Antenna 3, “Alexis Sanchez is not for sale.
“From a technical standpoint, this player means a lot to us.
“He has a four-year contract with Udinese and there is no contact with Manchester United.
“We do not have any intention of selling Alexis.”
However, money talks and the Chilean has impressed in his first season in the Udinese first team where Sanchez played 32 league matches (18 starts) and scored 3 goals. If United do firm up their interest in the wake of the Ronaldo transfer to Madrid expect the player to be arriving at Old Trafford. The protracted will he, won’t he saga of the Portuguese star last summer ended any move for the youngster then but Sir Alex has been watching this South American for a long time and he’d be a far cheaper prospect than Franck Ribery. Whatever happens this summer, Alexis Sanchez is certainly a name to look out for in the future.
So would you like your club to make a move for the Chilean wonder boy or would you be wary of buying such a young South American star? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Alexis Sanchez, chile, Manchester United, Udinese
June 15th, 2009 at 10:45
SIGN HIM UP FERGIE!!!!
Alexi Sanchez Man Utd new #7
June 15th, 2009 at 10:59
U BETTA GRAB HIM AND LEAVE RIBERY WHO’S NOT RIGHT FOR THAT AUDACIOUS MONEY
June 15th, 2009 at 11:00
I can’t agree more my perfect choice Aguero and Sanchez and hopefully they’d bring out the best from Berba with his age and understanding of the game a la Sheringham!!
June 15th, 2009 at 14:34
i think man untd should make a move for him he is just like ronaldo but we can make him as good as ronaldo or meybe even better we need this guy go for it fergi!!!!!!!!111
June 15th, 2009 at 15:58
I have the feeling that if Fergie knew Ronaldo was leaving last summer, Tosic and Lijic are the replacements. But hell, i wouldnt mind a double swoop of aguero & sanchez, id be chuffed to bits with them buys.
as for Ronaldo, pride comes before a fall.
June 16th, 2009 at 03:25
sign in this player for man u if you want the whole title next season fergiee..!!!
June 16th, 2009 at 08:53
man untd should buy sanchez he is as good as fernando torres at the moment so when he will come to man u he will develop and become better just like ronaldo did
June 16th, 2009 at 13:45
I watch last week the match between Chile vs Bolivia. and Chile vs Paraguay, and Alexis Sanchez is a diffrent player just like was Ronaldo at that age, like they said in southamerica is a “crack”. He has to improve alot to become the new cristiano and Feruson is the perfect guy to do that.
June 19th, 2009 at 03:56
damn look at all these ppl supporting a chilean soccer player i agree with all these ppl he should go man u and hes a new threat to the world so u better watch out
grande alexis sanches y grande chile mierda
June 26th, 2009 at 20:33
come on sir alex ferguson alexis sanchez will grow up and fit into the man untd squad better than ronaldo so i know this guy should be our no.7 and we should buy aguero aswell
June 29th, 2009 at 01:35
Alexis sanchez is of the most talented players i’ve seen in my life - He has a lot in common with the style of ronaldo and he plays in the same position. And he is getting even better day after day… way better than nani by the way…
C’mon Fergie!
June 29th, 2009 at 05:15
Sanchez is dtefinetly a good buy. But he is a bit too one (right)footed for 25 million euros. But having said that he is just a shorter version of Ronaldo. However with the Valencia deal almost done, which one of these players would play on the left?? For me the most important thing for Man u this season is to get the balance right so we can maximise the performance from each of our players most importantly Rooney and Berbatov, so my priority would b to get a player that gets chalk on his boots on the left flank. Aguero & Sanchez aren’t quite that player!!!!!
June 30th, 2009 at 19:18
As Chilean as I am, and knowing the whole career of alexis, it would be a very intelligent long term buy for united. Hope he arrives at old trafford.
June 30th, 2009 at 21:02
I ‘ve seen a few of this lad’s games in the SAmerican WCQ and he is a little beast! Man U should buy him quick at a good price before he sky rockets. A good replacement for #7
July 15th, 2009 at 11:08
It feels me with joy to finally see Chilean players being recognised on the world stage. This kid Sanchez is indeed very special, from what I’ve seen of him as a youth, he’ll be a super player. MU can certainly do with some Chilean talent. Sign him up!! before the Spaniards get their hands on him.
November 10th, 2009 at 04:09
MAN U should definitely get Sanchez because he is the next big thing.. give him a few more years and everyone will wanna be him!!!
December 5th, 2009 at 22:22
Everybody knows that Alexis Sanchez is one of the most talented players in the world. He’s 21, and has already become the best player in the chilean team. I’m chilean, and I’ve watched all of his moves. If ferguson doesn’t get him before the worldcup.. goodbye Sanchez, besides, he’s just like Ronaldo and will get even better than him on time.. I assure you that many club will want him after the wolrdcup.
Vamos Alexis, vamos Chile!
June 16th, 2010 at 19:37
Perfect replacement for Joe Cole. Just seen him play, amazing talent. Deffo needs to work on his shooting, but has massive potential. Chelsea should sign him asap! I know Real are interested, but come on Chelsea! **** that Zionist has-been Benayoun and buy this lad. He’ll become a superstar.