REVEALED: The day Alexis Sanchez decided to leave
March 26, 2014. Barcelona face Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou and win 3-0. Not only does Alexis play brilliantly, but he lays on two assists for Neymar.
March 29, 2014. Barcelona win 1-0 in the derby against Espanyol. But despite his fine display in the previous game, Alexis is not selected. He comes on in the 80th minute, replacing Neymar.
It was not the first time he had been overlooked, nor the last. Whether he liked it or not, Alexis' good performances in many games did not mean the Chilean was guaranteed a place in the side for bigger fixtures.
Tata Martino would select Pedro, or Cesc Fabregas, or Andres Iniesta as part of the attacking trio, when it really mattered. For whatever reason, it was March 29 when it became clear that Alexis could not continue at the club. He did not want to continue at the club.
He offered his hard work, effort and sacrifice as Barcelona challenged for the title. And that day he decided that if things did not change by the end of the season, he would leave. As it happened, things changed a little, but for the worse.
Make no mistake, Alexis has always been a topic of discussion at the club. People said they had paid big money for a striker that, yes, ran a lot, but had no technical quality. He was a striker that scored no goals.
But last season the Chilean showed he has great quality, with, for example, the goals he scored against Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou. Or scoring a goal the only time he was allowed to take the free-kick, as part of a hat-trick that came at home against Elche.
He was the second top scorer at the club, fourth in the entire division behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, Leo Messi and Diego Costa. He has a lot of arguments in his defence, but nothing worked.
Alexis wanted a change of scenery and Barcelona wanted money. Based on performances, Pedro would have been the player to sell, but the reality was that nobody had bid for him, but Alexis was in demand.
Arsenal's offer was good for both him and the club. Arsene Wenger is the boss and he told Alexis that he will be a starter.
A good player and a good man leaves. No, I do not know him personally. But the calm way he has put up with the s*** he has received means he has to be a good guy.
