Alexis Sanchez has no problems with her exes. Last summer, the Chilean was once again flirted with by Olympique de Marseille. A club for which he shone during the 2022-23 season with 18 goals scored in 44 appearances in all competitions. Free after the end of his contract with Inter Milan, which he returned to after his Olympian break, the native of Tocopilla surprised everyone by returning to Udinese. Here again, it is a team in which he had already played in the past. Indeed, he wore the colors of Udinese between 2006 and 2011.
A long-awaited return
Time for him to participate in 112 matches in all competitions and score 21 goals. It should be noted that his Italian adventure was interrupted by loans to Colo Colo and River Plate. But it was in the Udinese jersey that he caught the eye of FC Barcelona, who recruited him. The rest, we know it. The footballer born in 88 wore the colors of Barça, Arsenal, Manchester United, Inter Milan, OM and again for Udinese. Thirteen years after his big departure, Alexis Sanchez has found a club that is special to him.
“Here where he became a champion, here where he found love for a land, here where the legend began: El Niño Maravilla is back among us, El Niño Maravilla is black and white again! Alexis Sanchez is officially a Udinese player. He signed a two-year contract.we could read in the press release published by the Italian team on August 10. Enough to make fans smile, happy to see the 36-year-old center forward again. But the joy was short-lived as he quickly got injured.
The Chilean was betrayed by his body
After a short absence linked to his lack of training (1 missed match, 9 days of absence), he was injured in the left calf in training on August 21. At the time, the Italian press reported an absence of one month. But quickly, his case worried Udinese, since the player had made numerous visits to the infirmary last season at Inter. In fact, he had been on the sidelines 5 times (14 missed matches, 70 days of absence). And the fears of the Italian team were confirmed since the former Barça did not play before December. He thus missed 111 days of competitions and 15 matches.
On December 14, he returned to the group during the Serie A match against Naples (3-1 defeat). But he did not come into play. Then, on December 19, he had a little playing time against Inter in the 1/8 finals of the Italian Cup (45 minutes played). On Monday, he was again on the sidelines against Fiorentina (2-1 victory). His case necessarily raises questions. But his coach, Kosta Runjaic, made a point on the subject. “We all know his qualities but he still doesn’t have the pace to play a match. Today was not the time to give him minutes.” Returning through the front door, Alexis Sanchez had a complicated start during his second union with Udinese.
