Manchester City missed out on the signing of Chilean sensation and current Premier League Golden Boot leader, Alexis Sanchez, because of FFP regulations, reveals former manager Manuel Pellegrini.
The Chilean manager was at the helm of the Manchester club for three seasons and tried to sign Sanchez from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 but couldn’t do so given the club had used funds from external sources rather than the kind being made by them through matchday revenues and more.
"He was one of the best in the world and he showed it every day," Pellegrini told Chilean radio station ADN. "He was a major player we wanted to take to City.
"We could not take him before he signed for Arsenal, it was because the club was punished for Financial Fair Play. I did not have the space in the squad for him.
"Alexis is a complete winner and hopefully he will remain a force for a number of years."
Sanchez signed for Arsenal while Manchester City signed Eliaquim Mangala, Willy Caballero, Fernando and Bacary Sagna that summer.
Sanchez’s contract situation
The 27-year-old Chilean dominates the headlines these days for his ongoing contract extension saga with the Gunners. Reports claim that a massive €400,000-a-week offer from China is being used as a bargaining chip to get the best deal from the Gunners.
And Sanchez isn’t the only one negotiating a contract with Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Per Mertesacker all vying for improved deals as Arsenal look to put the dark past behind them – of selling their best players.
Arsene Wenger is keen on all of the aforementioned players signing new contracts and is said to be talking to Laurent Koscielny, Francis Coquelin and Olivier Giroud to ensure they sign as soon as possible. The French trio have all reportedly agreed new deals but are finalising small details here and there.
Also Read: Sanchez listens to music, plays piano to relax off field
But by no means does that mean Arsenal aren’t doing business in January. The Gunners have been linked with a massive multi-million pound move for long-term target Julian Draxler. The 23-year-old German winger has been linked with the North London since his early Schalke days and could finally join Arsene Wenger next month.
They’ve also been linked with moves for a host of youngsters from all over Europe with Ben Gibson, Ben Chilwell, and Reese Oxford all standing out from England alone. Wenger is also said to be pursuing multiple young strikers for the future of the club.
