Sanchez drugs shock
Striker missed random test on day he left Arsenal for Man United Player was away changing work permit.. but clubs could still be fined
ALEXIS SANCHEZ missed a drugs test at Arsenal – because he was on his way to sign for Manchester United.
It is understood that FA dope testers planned to take a sample on Monday at the Gunners’ training ground. But there was confusion about Sanchez’s whereabouts as the Chile forward completed his switch to Old Trafford that day.
The mix-up will not stop Sanchez making his debut in the FA Cup tie at Yeovil this evening but the clubs face potential fines or warnings. Arsenal and United
will have to answer to the FA because there are strict guidelines on informing the authorities of the whereabouts of players at all times, although there is no suggestion the forward was avoiding testers.
On Monday, Sanchez (below) attended a work-permit meeting in Liverpool that was critical to him completing his move.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan attended the same office in order to get the paperwork required to allow his switch to Arsenal in the £35million swap deal.
Manchester City were fined £35,000 last season for three similar offences.
Arsenal and Manchester United declined to comment about the drugs test last night.
But Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho, who signed his own contract extension until 2020 yesterday, spoke about how his club had a bargain in Sanchez.
The Chilean is on £450,000 a week and neighbours City pulled out of the bidding, claiming the package was too expensive. But Mourinho said: “How much would Sanchez cost in a normal transfer, as a player with two or three years left on his contract?
“I would say roughly between £100m and £150m. So you go to the numbers that the club didn’t pay on the transfer. You go to the numbers the club pays in salaries, which are obviously higher than others, but you put things in perspective.
“Alexis had lots of choices. He decided to come here and you have to ask him why. He has a big passion for football, but we also work for money. That’s the same for everyone. He wanted to play in a different club and obviously be paid according to his quality.”
And Mourinho reckons United did not get the credit they deserved for the signing. “It’s difficult for people to say, ‘Well done, fantastic. He was with one and a half feet in another club, you went there and you did it’.
“We are creating the conditions for a brilliant and successful future here.”