Alexis Sanchez says that he would not have stayed at Inter Milan this summer, even if he had been offered a contract extension.
The 35-year-old opened up about his departure from the Nerazzurri for a second time during his unveiling as an Udinese player, via FCInterNews.
Sanchez’s career in Europe has come full circle, in a certain sense.
The Chilean first came to the continent to join Udinese, where he started to gradually earn his reputation.
This culminated in a big money move to Barcelona in the summer of 2011. Sanchez starred at the Camp Nou for three seasons.
Then in 2014, Sanchez made the switch to Arsenal. He was at the Emirates for three and half season, following by a season and a half at Manchester United.
Sanchez made the return to Serie A in the summer of 2019. He joined Inter.
The Chilean spent three seasons with the Nerazzurri, winning the Serie A title, the Copa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana, along with reaching a Europa League final.
In 2022, Sanchez departed Inter to join Marseille.
But the Chilean made a surprise return to the Nerazzurri last summer, just one season after first leaving.
It was a memorable final season at Inter for Sanchez. The Nerazzurri won the Serie A title, making it two Italian top flight titles in his trophy cabinet.
Alexis Sanchez: “Wouldn’t Have Stayed At Inter Even If They Offered Contract Extension”
Sanchez only signed a one-season deal with Inter last summer.
Therefore, the 35-year-old’s contract with the Nerazzurri ran out at the end of June.
And while there had been one or two rumours over the latter half of the campaign that Inter could offer Sanchez another short-term deal, that never happened.
Therefore, the former Arsenal and Manchester United veteran was free to join a new club.
There was interest in Sanchez’s signature from a number of clubs.
But in the end, it was Udinese who convinced the Chilean. He has made a return to Friuli that is full of symbolic importance.
Sanchez said of his time at Inter that “I was happy.”
“But even if they’d offered me an extension, I wouldn’t have stayed another season.”
“Everyone was spectacular with me,” Sanchez said. “I want to thank the city of Milan.”
“I went to Inter, who hadn’t won any trophies for a while before I joined, and then we won the Scudetto,” the Chilean said.
“And we won the second star.”
“Now, I’m at Udinese,” Sanchez added. “I always like a fight in life, and why not dream?”
“I’ve seen my teammates in training and they have the same desire, as does the club President who wants to return to the top.”