- Home >
- Soccer >
- Premier League >
- Alexis Sánchez Reveals Toxic Atmosphere at Manchester United: “I Couldn’t Win on My Own”
Alexis Sánchez Reveals Toxic Atmosphere at Manchester United: “I Couldn’t Win on My Own”
In 2018, Chilean forward Alexis Sánchez became one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League after joining Manchester United, but he later admitted that money was not everything
Alexis Sánchez arrived quietly at Matías Almeyda’s Sevilla, but his European résumé speaks for itself. He played for major clubs such as Barcelona, alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar, Arsenal, and Manchester United — though his time with the Red Devils marked one of the darkest periods of his career.
What Happened to Alexis Sánchez at Manchester United?
Sánchez showed his quality at nearly every club he played for, but in an interview with ESPN, he admitted that Manchester United felt different from the very first training session.
“There wasn’t a positive atmosphere. It’s difficult to wear the No. 7 shirt of Manchester United — Cristiano Ronaldo’s, Cantona’s — and I couldn’t win on my own. I needed my teammates, and that environment just wasn’t there on the pitch,” he explained.
The La Roja international also revealed that he immediately looked for a way out of the club, a decision that time ultimately validated.
“I’ve seen many players stay for the money. I raised my hand and said, ‘I want to leave.’ I went to Inter and we won five titles.”

Alexis Sánchez Remembers Messi and Neymar: “They Didn’t Believe Me”
Sánchez also reflected on his time at Barcelona, playing alongside stars like Neymar and Messi during the early days of the tiki-taka era. He recalled in particular a goal he scored in El Clásico against Real Madrid.
“Ney and Leo said to me, ‘Did you really mean to hit it like that?’ And I told them, ‘Yes, I meant it.’ They didn’t believe me. I tried to chip it, it turned into a beautiful goal, and it became part of history,” he said.













