YOU’RE BARRED!

Sanchez tax fraud means he can’t join United’s USA tour

ALEXIS SANCHEZ has been refused entry to the USA for Manchester United’s preseason tour due to visa issues.

Sanchez was a surprise absentee when United flew here on Sunday. He was pictured near his home in Cheshire as Jose Mourinho and the rest of the squad gathered at Manchester Airport.

The club confirmed yesterday that Sanchez did not travel due to ‘personal administrative issues’.

It is understood he has encountered problems obtaining a visa after accepting a prison sentence for tax fraud in Spain in February.

Sanchez was charged with illegally defrauding the Spanish treasury of £885,000 while a Barcelona player in 2012-13. Sanchez, who earns £500,000 a week, agreed to repay the money in full and accepted a 16-month prison sentence which means he did not have to go to jail because the punishment was less than two years.

Sanchez still hopes to be granted a visa waiver that will allow him to join the tour. The 29-year-old and his lawyer Ruben Inostroza Povea have been in talks with United officials and the US embassy to try to resolve the issue.

If Sanchez is unable to travel, he would be sorely missed from a United squad already without a number of World Cup stars who are resting after the tournament in Russia.