Alexis ‘crazy money’ leaves Sam stunned
RACE TO SEAL DEAL TODAY
OLYMPIC champ Sam Quek revealed it would take her nearly 27 years to earn what Alexis Sanchez will pocket in a week at Manchester United.
The 29-year-old Arsenal frontman is set to make the switch to United in the next 24 hours.
It would see the Chilean star earn around £400,000 a week.
Hockey ace Sam, who won Olympic gold with her GB teammates at the 2016 Games in Rio, branded it “crazy money”.
The 29-year-old tweeted: “When I was classed as a full-time hockey player it would have taken me 26 and a half years of salary to earn what he does in 7 days #CrazyMoney.’’ When a fan asked her if she earned just £15,000-a-year while striking gold, she replied: “Yup, you do it for the love of the sport. Not the money.” However, she added: “Not complaining – just thought it was a mad thing. Trust me, if they offered me it, I would take it!!’’
MANCHESTER UNITED face a race to get Alexis Sanchez signed and registered in time for tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Burnley.
Old Trafford officials have spent the past few days trying to get a deal with Arsenal over the line for the £35m-rated Chilean, with midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan going the other way in part exchange.
Sanchez must be registered as a United player by noon today to be included in the squad for the Burnley game.
The deal was moving closer last night, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitting he expected it to get done quickly.
United’s kit manufacturers Adidas were so confident that they were already selling ‘Alexis 7’ shirts (above) at their flagship store on London’s Oxford Street yesterday.
Sanchez, 29, has already agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract with United worth £500,000 a week, which will make him the best-paid player in British football history.
But the deal is being held up because Mkhitaryan, 28, has
not agreed his move in the opposite direction, with his agent Mino Raiola in London to hammer out personal terms.
Sanchez looked a gloomy figure when he arrived for training yesterday at the Gunners’ London Colney base, but had a smile on his face when he drove away later.
The striker even gave a thumbs-up sign as he left the Hertfordshire site for what is expected to be the last time.
The No.7 shirt that Sanchez is set to wear carries a big responsibility at Old Trafford, having been worn by such club greats as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Since Ronaldo left for Real Madrid in 2009, the shirt has been worn by several players who have struggled to live up to those expectations – Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia, Angel Di Maria and Memphis Depay.
But United boss Mourinho is hopeful that Sanchez can join the list of legendary Old Trafford No.7s.
Wenger confirmed yesterday that he was happy with a Sanchez swap deal involving Mkhitaryan.
“I like the player,” he said. “We played many times against him when he was at Dortmund.
“He certainly appreciated the quality of our game and the way we play football. That’s why certainly he loves the club as well.
“The wages would not be a problem.
“This would be an exchange of players and I think one would replace the other.”