Sanchez Reveals He Wanted to Leave Manchester United After Just One Training Session

Alexis Sanchez has revealed that he wanted to leave Manchester United almost immediately after joining the club, saying he asked whether his contract could be cancelled after just one training session.

The Chile international moved to Old Trafford from Arsenal in January 2018 after scoring 80 goals during three and a half years with the Gunners.

However, Sanchez struggled to reproduce that form at Manchester United, scoring only five goals in 45 appearances under Jose Mourinho and later Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He eventually joined Inter Milan on loan for the 2019-20 season before completing a permanent move to the Serie A club on a three-year contract.

Reflecting on his United experience, Sanchez said he had been excited by the opportunity but admitted he had not fully investigated the situation at the club before agreeing to the transfer.

“I accepted the opportunity to go to Manchester United. It felt tempting and it was something good for me,” Sanchez said.

“But I didn’t ask for information on what was happening inside the club.”

The forward said his concerns began almost immediately after his first training session.

“After the session I got home and I told my family and my agent, ‘Can you not rip up the contract to go back to Arsenal?’” he said.

Sanchez added that those close to him initially laughed at the suggestion, but he felt something was not right.

“I told them there’s something that doesn’t sit right, it doesn’t seem good,” he said.

The Chilean admitted there was little he could do because the deal had already been completed.

“I had already signed. I was already there,” Sanchez said.

He added that his concerns continued during his first few months at Old Trafford, claiming the Manchester United squad lacked unity at the time.

“After the first few months I carried on having the same feeling. We weren’t united as a team in that moment,” he said.