Why Alexis Sanchez Needs To Get Out Of Barcelona
I said back in 2011, that Alexis Sanchez shouldn’t move away from Serie A for Barcelona. I feared that the move to the Catalan giants would stall the creative man’s career.
Not because he wasn’t skilful enough or because he wasn’t a world-class talent, nope it was all because Lionel Messi was already at Barca and would be the number one star at the Camp Nou and occupy positions that Sanchez would flourish best in.
Often, Sanchez has had to operate on the right as Barcelona let Messi take the central role. It’s not by coincidence that the Chilean had his best spell with the La Liga cracks when Messi’s season was hampered with persistent niggles and injuries.
He played in more matches last term than he had in any of his previous two seasons in Spain and he had a healthy return of twenty-one goals and fifteen assists in fifty-four appearances.
As a player, he’s improved since his €26m move from Udinese. He has become a more consistent performer. But alas as I’ve already said he won’t be the main man at Barca nor will he get the freedom to create the most havoc whilst Neymar and Messi remain at the Camp Nou.
Don’t get me wrong, he will still be a great player for ‘Los Cules’ but I can’t see him reaching his true, full potential until he joins a big European side and is considered as their top, top star and given a free role.
That’s why he gives Chile so much. He is the inspirational player, who everyone looks to when they need something special. He’s given licence to roam, hit most of the set-pieces and he is the player his teammates look to give the ball to. Look at his World Cup, so far in his nations three games he has scored one and set-up another. All in he has seventy caps and twenty-three goals for his country.
As I’ve already stated, his time with FC Barcelona hasn’t been wasted. He has managed to prove himself there and helped the club win a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and a World Club Cup. But like Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cesc Fabregas, he hasn’t had the plaudits he craves or deserves in Catalunya.
Supposedly Barcelona would be in a mind to sell the Chilean international as they look to rebuild their squad and freshen things up. This again shows that the man from Santiago isn’t a priority with the FC Barcelona hierarchy. Instead they’d prefer Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez and could bid around £70m for his services. That means they would need to recoup money themselves. Fabregas has already departed to Chelsea and rumours have been doing the rounds that they’d also let Pedro go and offload Alexis for a fee of £20m plus.
That fee would interest the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Juventus.
The Italians have supposedly been close to signing the frontman for the last month but as time ticks by and a deal doesn’t get done, that gives others a chance to sneak in and snatch the player from under the noses of the ‘Old Lady’. Sanchez has already proven himself in Serie A and Juve would be desperate to get a superstar in and finally replace Alessandro Del Piero.
Liverpool may stand a greater chance to win the race for the versatile forward’s signature as Barca could use him as a makeweight in a deal involving Suarez. I doubt Liverpool would be willing to sell their own star-man but if Luis digs his heels in and causes another huge fuss, then the ‘Reds’ may decide a £50m deal plus Sanchez could suit them in the end.
Manchester United could do with Sanchez as they need a creative superstar that is more consistent than Wayne Rooney and less injury prone than Robin van Persie. But would the Chilean like a season without Champions League football? That could be a big minus for a few potential Man Utd buys.
Arsenal would be vastly improved in the goalscoring department if they could convince Sanchez to join them in London as he offers much needed pace and skills to get away from defences. His ability to score important goals and play in a variety of different positions would also interest Arsene Wenger.
I just hope Alexis Sanchez departs Barcelona this summer and proves he really is a world-class player. Instead of being a back-up man to Lionel Messi maybe, in England or in Italy, he can step away from the Messi shadow and challenge for European titles and the Ballon d’Or.
Posted on June 23rd, 2014 by scott
Filed under: Article
You’re full of shit. Alexis has been good in Barcelona.
Ok tell me where I’ve said he wasn’t good at Barcelona?
I am a Barca fans and I agreed with your points. It is always difficult to play as a forward at Barcelona with the central role occupied by Messi. It would be a good deal for Barcelona (or even Liverpool) if Sanchez can be offered in exchange with Saurez.
This article is wel writen n it make more sences dan jst bias. I fink sanches is a world class player dat lack freedom in barcelona even pedro n Tello. D presense of messi make dem lost confidence but then they are all good players to me barcelona dnt need any striker instead they shld reoganize dem n giv dem more rall. Dey may sell pedro so dat he can hav more chance elsewr but sanches could still be utilized in otherway
I tink u iz n idiut. Sanchez iz pure ded gid. U r well n luv wif Messi innit.