Former Chile coach slams ‘fatter than normal’ Arsenal star

Joe Williams

Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez is “out of physical shape” and distracted by his desire to make a move, according to a former Chile coach.

Sanchez turned in a poor display for Chile in their 3-0 loss to Paraguay on Thursday night – which kicked off just 30 minutes after the transfer window shut in England.

A deadline day move was on the cards to Manchester City after a deal had reportedly been agreed only for it to fall through after the Gunners’ potential replacement, Thomas Lemar, rejected a move to the Emirates Stadium.

And former Chile youth coach Sulantay didn’t recognise the Sanchez that was playing on Thursday as he thought he looked overweight and distracted.

“I saw him gone, I saw him out of physical shape, totally,” Sulantay told La Cuarta.

“He’s fatter than normal. Without his spark, he never left that Paraguayan defence behind.

“He never made a diagonal run, it was something else. It was not Alexis.

“This can bring you problems later, the statements of wanting to leave.

“The team-mates must have felt nothing for him.”