Google News Alexis Sanchez was close to joining Manchester City: An incredible turn of events
by SEAD DEDOVIC | VIEW 350
Alexis Sanchez spoke to the media about his adventure at Manchester United. What nobody knew until now is the fact that Alexis was close to coming to Manchester City and had an agreement with Pep Guardiola. However, at the last moment, there was a change.
"I was about to go to City," said Sanchez, as quoted by mirror.co.uk "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 [Arsenal manager Arsene] Wenger tells me you are not leaving because the other player did not want to come and they do not have another."
Jose Mourinho called him
Jose Mourinho called him and offered him the option to play for Manchester United.
The Chilean knew how much it would mean for his career. Manchester United is a big club, and he would become the first Chilean to play there. "Suddenly the cell phone rings. Mourinho tells me, 'Alexis, here is the [number] seven 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 [Eric] Cantona, [David] Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and now a Chilean had it, it was a dream." Although he does not regret leaving Old Trafford, Sanchez believes that he could have achieved much more if he had played for Manchester City.
"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 [something City have failed to achieve]. In the final I would have done something."
