Sanchez completed his move to Manchester United from Arsenal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan heading the other way in one of the most high-profile swap moves of all time. The finishing touches to the deal were made on Monday and an announcement that the two 29-year-olds had traded places was made at 6pm. Speaking for the first time as a United player, Sanchez said: “Since I was a young lad I’ve always said that my dream was to play for Manchester United, and I’m not just saying that because I’m here now and today it’s come true.
“I always said as a kid that I’d like to play for United and I once spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson about it. We chatted for around 20 minutes and I told him that my dream was to come here to Manchester United.
“It really is a massive club, very powerful, and so now, when I got the opportunity to come here, I looked at the badge and my hairs just stood up on end because it’s a powerful club and the biggest in England.”
Yet despite saying he’s wanted to play for United since he was young, Sanchez then appeared to admit he didn’t even know who had donned the No 7.
He told MUTV: “When they told me that Cristiano, Eric Cantona, David Beckham had all worn it, just thinking about that number seven sets you off dreaming in your head with ideas about lifting the Champions League trophy and winning the Premier League title.
“So yes, I’m fulfilling a dream and I hope to give my very best and win many trophies at this club.”
United's new signing, who missed Arsenal's win over Crystal Palace on Saturday while negotiations over a switch continued, posted a departing message on Instagram where he took aim at ex-Arsenal players that have been critical of him.
Though his social-media post did not reference anyone directly, Sanchez wrote: "There are people (former club players) who have spoken with no knowledge of what happens inside the club and cause damage.
"I must say I always gave 100%, until the last day, when I asked to the Mister (Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger) to be in the team, because I wanted to be a contribution."
Martin Keown, a former Gunners defender, had called Sanchez "the biggest mercenary in football", with suggestions the Chilean forward will earn £500,000 a week at Old Trafford.
United's rivals Manchester City had tried to sign Sanchez in the summer and revisited the possibility in this window only to pull out due to the rising costs. Arsenal wanted £35million for a player out of contract in the summer and United's willingness to meet Sanchez's wage demands and use a makeweight in Mkhitaryan, who is valued at the Gunners' asking price, allowed a straight swap to take place.
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