In one of the most infamous transfer sagas in Premier League history, Alexis Sanchez's move from Arsenal to Manchester United turned into a financial nightmare for the Red Devils, while the Gunners emerged as unlikely winners of the deal.
The £50m Disaster
Manchester United's acquisition of Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez in January 2018 has gone down as one of the worst deals in football history. The Red Devils not only took on Sanchez's astronomical £500,000-a-week wages but also paid Arsenal a hefty fee in the region of £30m, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan going the other way.
Arsenal's Masterstroke
While United struggled with Sanchez's poor form and massive salary, Arsenal cleverly offloaded a player whose performance was declining. The Gunners avoided being stuck with an underperforming star on massive wages and received Mkhitaryan in exchange, who proved more useful than Sanchez during his time at Old Trafford.
What Went Wrong?
Sanchez managed just 5 goals in 45 appearances for United, a shocking return for a player of his calibre. His confidence appeared shattered, and he never adapted to United's style of play. The financial burden became so severe that United eventually paid Sanchez £9m to terminate his contract early.
Lessons Learned
This transfer serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of panic buys and excessive wages in modern football. While United were desperate to make a statement signing, Arsenal demonstrated shrewd business acumen by cutting their losses at the right time.
