Sanchez is hit by USA ban

ALEXIS SANCHEZ will miss the start of Manchester United’s pre-season tour after being banned from entering the USA.

The Chile star is understood not to have been able to get a visa.

United stars not involved in the World Cup and manager Jose Mourinho flew out to Los Angeles on Sunday for the two-week long tour.

January signing Sanchez, right, was not in the travelling party, which sparked fears over his fitness.

But a United spokesperson said: “Alexis Sanchez did not travel due to a personal administrative issue.”

Sanchez accepted a 16-month suspended prison sentence for tax fraud in Spain in February.

The former Barcelona star failed to pay taxes of about £886,000 from image rights deals in 2012 and 2013. No person found guilty of fraud will be granted a visa to enter the United States, according to its laws.

But there is a waiver programme and both United and Sanchez’s lawyers are hoping to get clearance to get the former Arsenal forward into the country. The process is taking longer than anticipated, which means he is unlikely to be with the squad for their opening friendly against Club America in the early hours of Friday.

There is still the possibility he could miss the entire tour, which would be a huge blow to Mourinho and the player.

United also face Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes, plus AC Milan, Liverpool and Real Madrid while in America.