Alexis Sánchez (Part 1)

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3 Apr 2024

Alexis Sánchez (Part 1)

Alexis Sánchez, often referred to as "El Niño Maravilla" (The Wonder Child), is widely considered one of the greatest Chilean footballers of all time. He has had a prolific career both at the club and international levels.
Sánchez began his professional career with Cobreloa at the age of 15 before moving to Udinese in 2006 at the age of 18. While on loan to Colo-Colo and River Plate, he won consecutive league titles. In 2011, Sánchez made a record association football transfer to Barcelona for €37.5 million, becoming the most expensive Chilean player at the time. During his time at Barcelona, he won six trophies, including La Liga and Copa del Rey titles.

Sánchez joined Arsenal for £31.7 million (€35 million) and experienced success, winning two FA Cups and earning individual accolades such as the 2015 PFA Fans' Player of the Year and being named to the 2015 PFA Team of the Year. He later moved to Manchester United in 2018 in a swap deal before signing for Inter Milan in 2019, where he won a Serie A title and a Coppa Italia.
After a brief stint at Marseille in 2022, Sánchez returned to Inter Milan in 2023. Throughout his club career, he has showcased his versatility and goal-scoring prowess.

Internationally, Sánchez made his debut for the Chile national team in 2006 at the age of 18. He has since earned 162 caps, making him the most capped player in Chilean history, and is also the all-time leading goalscorer for his country. Sánchez played a key role in Chile's historic victories at the 2015 Copa América, where he scored the winning penalty in the final, and the Copa América Centenario in 2016, where he was awarded the Golden Ball for Best Player.
Overall, Sánchez's career is marked by his skill, leadership, and significant contributions to both club and country, solidifying his status as a football icon in Chilean and international football.

Alexis Sánchez's early football journey included a brief stint with a Universidad Católica Academy in Rancagua in 1999, where he had the opportunity to be coached by René Valenzuela, a former Chilean international footballer. Additionally, he represented the Escuela Bernardo O'Higgins team from Tocopilla in national championships. These early experiences likely played a significant role in shaping Sánchez's development as a footballer, laying the foundation for his future success in the sport.
Born in Tocopilla, Alexis Sánchez emerged as a promising talent from the youth ranks of C.D. Cobreloa, where he shared the field with future Chilean national team stars like Charles Aránguiz and Eduardo Vargas. Under the guidance of manager Nelson Acosta, Sánchez was promoted to Cobreloa's senior first team in February 2005.

Sánchez made his debut for Cobreloa against Deportes Temuco on 12 February, and he marked his arrival with his first professional goal in a 2–1 victory over Deportes Concepción on 18 March. Notably, he also made his Copa Libertadores debut against Once Caldas at the age of 16, showcasing his precocious talent on the continental stage.
His performances at Cobreloa drew the attention of Serie A side Udinese, who secured his services for a transfer fee of £1.7 million on 21 April 2006. However, Udinese opted to send Sánchez on loan to Chilean powerhouse Colo-Colo for a season-long spell as part of a maturation project to further develop his skills and experience at a high level.

After his loan spell at Colo-Colo, Alexis Sánchez made a significant impact upon joining Argentina's River Plate on loan from Udinese on 15 August 2007. But before departing, he left a lasting impression with Colo-Colo.
Sánchez made his debut for Colo-Colo on 23 June 2006 in a 1–1 draw against Antofagasta, and he quickly showcased his talent by scoring his first goal on 29 October in a thrilling 4–2 victory over Universidad de Chile in the Chilean football derby. His stellar performances earned him a spot in the starting lineup, where he formed a dynamic partnership with striker Humberto Suazo.

Throughout his time at Colo-Colo, Sánchez continued to impress, scoring crucial goals such as a brace in a 4–4 draw against Deportes La Serena and his first continental goal in a dominant 7–2 victory over Alajuelense in the Copa Sudamericana. Despite his contributions, Colo-Colo finished as runners-up in the tournament after losing in the final against Pachuca of Mexico. However, Sánchez clinched his first professional title with Colo-Colo when they emerged victorious in the Torneo Clausura final against Audax Italiano on 23 December 2006.
In the following season, Sánchez further showcased his scoring prowess by netting his first Copa Libertadores goals in a hat-trick performance against Caracas, leading Colo-Colo to a resounding 4–0 away win. He also played a crucial role in securing Colo-Colo's 26th league title with a vital goal against Santiago Wanderers.

Following his impressive performances, Sánchez's loan with Colo-Colo concluded, and he embarked on a new challenge with River Plate in Argentina, aiming to continue his development on a larger stage.
After leaving South America in July 2008, Alexis Sánchez embarked on a new chapter in his career by joining Udinese in Serie A, where he would team up with Chilean compatriot Mauricio Isla. Sánchez made an immediate impact, showcasing his talent in both domestic and European competitions.

His non-competitive debut for Udinese came in a 3–0 win over Bassano, where he was named the man of the match for his performance. He followed this up with his Serie A debut against Juventus on 14 September and his European debut against Borussia Dortmund four days later. Sánchez scored his first league goal for Udinese on 19 October 2008 against Lecce, but faced criticism during a minor slump in form. However, he silenced his critics by scoring the winning goal in the 90th minute against Bologna, earning him the man of the match accolade.
In the following season, Sánchez played a crucial role for Udinese in the Coppa Italia, helping the team eliminate Milan with a vital assist for Gökhan Inler's winning goal. He continued his impressive form in the semi-final second leg against Roma, where he was named man of the match after scoring his first Coppa Italia goal. Despite his efforts, Udinese fell short as Roma advanced on aggregate.

One of Sánchez's standout performances came on 27 February 2011, when he scored four goals in Udinese's 7–0 victory over Palermo, breaking the record for goals scored by a Chilean player in a single Serie A match. Throughout his successful season, Sánchez formed a formidable partnership with Italian striker Antonio Di Natale, with the duo becoming one of Serie A's best scoring combinations.
Sánchez's remarkable achievements did not go unnoticed, as he was named the world's most promising youngster of the 2011 season by users of FIFA.com. Additionally, he ranked highly in the Castrol Performance Index, further cementing his status as one of the most talented forwards in Serie A at the time.