Alexis Sanchez tells Thierry Henry why he left Arsenal for Manchester United

Tom Doyle11 February 2018

Alexis Sanchez left Arsenal for Manchester United because he wants to "win everything" at Old Trafford, the Chile forward told Thierry Henry.

Sanchez was set to leave Arsenal for Manchester City in a £60million deal on transfer deadline day last summer, but the move fell through to leave Sanchez with a year left on his contract at Emirates Stadium.

The Chile international seemed likely to make his long-awaited move to City in the January window, but United pulled off a shock deal which saw Henrkh Mkhitaryan head to north London in exchange.

Sanchez has made a solid start to his Old Trafford career, scoring his first goal for United in a 2-0 win over Huddersfield last weekend, and is set to start against Newcastle at St James' Park on Sunday.

In Pictures | Alexis Sanchez joins Manchester United | 22/01/2018

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Henry and Sanchez rebuffed claims last month that the Frenchman was in any way involved in Chilean’s decision to join United, with both players clarifying that Henry had not tried to persuade Sanchez to leave Arsenal.

And Sanchez told Arsenal's top goalscorer in a sit-down interview with Sky Sports that his decision to swap north London for Manchester was not down to the reported £350,000-a-week wages he is now receiving, but rather the chance to develop at a "huge club".

"I came here to win," Sanchez told Henry. "I left Arsenal because I wanted to develop and learn as a player, and get to experience a new club.

"Manchester United are a huge club on the global stage, I came here to win everything. Otherwise I wouldn't have come here.

"I think United have to win everything because it's such a big club. The club crest says it all. I came here to win everything that United deserve to win."

Sanchez - who cut a frustrated figure towards the end of his Arsenal career - continued: "I think that Manchester United… since I was young - and I'm not just saying this because I'm here I'm an honest guy and I never lie - I think it's the biggest club in England.

"That's what I think. There are lots of big clubs, and having played for Arsenal, they are also one of them. It's a huge club and I was there.

"But coming here, looking at the badge. I'm so proud to wear the No.7 shirt.

"And I know many people say there's added pressure linked to that or it might work against you, but I simply enjoy my football whether I'm No.10 or 9. Or any other number. Or even 14 or 12!"

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