Harry Diamond
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted it was the right decision for Alexis Sanchez to leave Manchester United.
The Chile forward was allowed to leave the club on Thursday, joining Italian side Inter Milan on a season-long loan deal having been deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
The 30-year-old has endured a disappointing spell at the club since joining from Arsenal in 2018, scoring just three league goals and failing to establish himself as a key figure for the club.
Manchester United boss Solskjaer believes the decision to move Sanchez on was the right decision, the Norwegian believing the former Barcelona star can ‘restart’ his career at the San Siro.
? | FERMI TUTTI
? @Alexis_Sanchez è nerazzurro! ??⚫?
?? https://t.co/Q2SYR3KIOY #WelcomeAlexis #NotForEveryone #FCIM pic.twitter.com/PROynIgWqL
— Inter (@Inter) August 29, 2019
“I think Alexis needed to go,” Solskjaer told the media ahead of this weekend’s game against Southampton.
“We know he’s been here for 18 months and it’s not really worked out for him, and for him, to restart and get himself playing regularly, get him scoring goals, that will only benefit everyone in the end.
“For us, we’re going to watch every weekend to see Romelu [Lukaku] and Alexis playing together.”
Despite his struggles at the club, Solskjaer has backed Sanchez to ‘come good’ in Italian football as he bids to rediscover this best form, a situation which would be ideal for United considering Inter don’t have an option to make the deal permanent.
His departure does seemingly leave the Red Devils light up-front though, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial their only senior striking options, though Solskjaer believes the club have enough depth to cover the loss of Sanchez to Serie A.
“I think he will come good for them, but for us, we had a decision to make here and I’m trusting Anthony [Martial], Marcus [Rashford], and Mason [Greenwood] to be our centre-forwards. We’ve got the wingers – Chongy, Dan James, Pereira – we’ve got loads of options.”
From Cantona to Sanchez: Ranking all of Manchester United’s number 7’s