Alexis Sanchez has got the move he wanted at last.
The Chilean’s much-anticipated switch to Manchester United from Arsenal has been officially unveiled, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan going in the other direction.
Cue the piano.
And while Sanchez won’t be linking up with his old Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola at Man City, he will, at least, be away from the stifling atmosphere of the Gunners, where he’s often cut a rather frustrated figure in recent times.
Naturally, we imagine Arsenal fans aren’t too happy with their best player leaving the club for one of their biggest rivals.
And they certainly won’t be happy once they’ve read what Sanchez had to say in his parting message via Instagram.
In the message, he wrote: “I want to say thanks to the technical staff, to the medical team and all team-mates with whom I shared many nice things for the club and especially those people who do not see themselves on the covers.
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“Without them nothing would be possible, which are there to prepare food for us and take care of us day by day, those who keep our shoes clean and the grass in the best conditions.
“Many thanks to you for helping us to improve every day. Thank you very much.”
All fair enough so far, right?
But as he goes on, Sanchez hits out at ex-players who criticised him in recent weeks, and refutes claims in the media that he was disrupting the dressing room while trying to force a move out of the club.
He wrote: “There are people who have spoken with no knowledge of what happens inside the club and cause damage.
“I must say I always gave 100 per cent, until the last day, when I asked to the Mister to be in the team, because I wanted to be a contribution.”
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And finally, he makes it clear that he’s leaving to win trophies, and even name-checks Gunners legend Thierry Henry in his decision-making.
“I remember today, a conversation I had with Henry, a historic Arsenal player, who changed club for the same reason and today is my turn.”
Henry – who left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2007 – remains the club’s all-time top goal scorer, and was a key figure in their Invincible’s run in 2003–04.
He’s even got a statue outside the Emirates.
But he might have some explaining to do to fans, if he did indeed somehow inspire Sanchez’s departure.
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