We find out what Europe’s most prominent forward player is worth. Article by Cormac Rae
As a youngster the footballer was always confident that his skills could take him where few from his small town had gone before, with the Chilean superstar recently signing a bumper deal at Manchester United. But what is Alexis Sanchez’s net worth, being Chile’s most capped footballer of all time?
From modest beginnings, Sanchez was born 19th December, 1988 in the gritty, poverty-stricken Chilean seaside town of Tocopilla. His mother was a humble fish seller while his father left his family home shortly after he was born. Playing street football barefoot taught a young Sanchez to be nimble and crafty, avoiding rocks and stones while passing and dribbling. Learning to fight for every ball, he had natural ability and grace on the ball that led coaches to label him one of soccer’s most anticipated attacking threats. His electric pace, flair and distribution led to comparisons with the world’s greatest number 7, Cristiano Ronaldo.
When he was six he played for local side Aracau and moved to play in neighbouring Rancagua at thirteen. His local mayor gave him his first pair of boots at fifteen and by seventeen he was among the most highly anticipated Chilean youngsters to play football at an elite level.
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He joined the ranks of Cobreloa youth team earning a flat fee of 50,000 pesos (£45) per month, scoring 12 goals in 47 appearances before catching the eye of the Italian club Udinese, who then loaned him out to Colo-Colo and the Argentinian giants FC River Plate.
At twenty-two, he joined FC Barcelona in 2011 for a fee of £23 million (including £10 million in bonuses) earning him around £80,000 a week. Playing under Pep Guardiola, he was competing with the likes of Lionel Messi for goal scoring opportunities but was still relatively prolific in front of goal. In his third and final season at Barcelona he helped Barça to win the La Liga title with 21 goals and 17 assists. Yet with Neymar growing in stature and the arrival of Suarez imminent, there was a mounting wage bill and Sanchez was deemed surplus to requirements.
In the summer of 2014 he made a £30 million move to Arsenal earning him £130,000 a week. Winning two FA cups, Arsenal’s player of the year award in 2014/15 and 2016/17 and scoring 60 goals in 122 appearances he became Arsenal’s most reliable attacking threat. He won the 2015 PFA Fans Player of the year award and the Copa America twice for Chile in 2015 and 2016.
During the 2016/17 campaign the Telegraph reported that Sanchez was pushing for a wage increase, allegedly asking for £384,000 to keep him at the Emirates. According to the Times, Sanchez had agreed new terms with Arsenal but his apparent dismay at Arsenals 10-2 defeat by Bayern Munich was the final straw for a dispirited Sanchez. Whilst Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League in 2016/17 his ambition ‘to win titles’ at Arsenal may never have materialised had he decided to stay.
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In a heartfelt and gracious sign off to Arsenal, a typically modest Sanchez thanked ‘technical staff, the medical team and all his teammates’. He also made a special mention for “those people who do not see themselves on the covers, but 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…”
Whilst Sanchez will earn £25.5 million a year in a lucrative transfer deal with Manchester United this January transfer window he will also be catapulted into their Champions League squad, competing amongst Europe’s elite for a chance at one of the world’s most prestigious titles. The Mirror has reported that the deal will earn Sanchez 80p a second and £2,900 per hour before tax, £490,000,making him Manchester United’s highest paid player on their roster.
Sanchez was valued at £35 million by Arsene Wenger and as the Premier League’s highest profile straight swap ever for Henrikh Mkhitaryan was agreed by both sides, his well-connected Argentinean agent, Fernando Felicevich, is also set to make £15m from the Manchester United transfer.
He has sponsorship deals with Nike, Pepsi and was named brand ambassador for Huawei in 2015 for an undisclosed fee.
Playing in numerous forward positions throughout his career; as a winger, striker and a false nine, Sanchez’s quick feet, creativity and striking prowess make him one of Europe’s leading forward players. Scoring the decisive penalty kick to win Chile’s first Copa America title in 2015, he is also one of Chile’s most beloved footballers.
