Alexis Sánchez

Alexis Alejandro Sánchez Sánchez (Spanish pronunciation: [aˈleksis ˈsantʃes]; born 19 December 1988), also known simply as Alexis, is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Inter Milan, on loan from English club Manchester United, and the Chile national team. He is popularly dubbed "El Niño Maravilla" (The Wonder Child). Sánchez began his career as a youth player for Cobreloa at age 17, before relocating to Italy to play for Udinese in 2006. He won consecutive league titles in loans spells to Colo-Colo and River Plate. In 2008, he returned to Udinese and became an integral member of the team. After three seasons in at the club, Sánchez moved to Barcelona in a transfer worth €30 million (£25 million), becoming the most expensive Chilean player of all time. In his first season at Barcelona, Sánchez starred in an attacking trio alongside Lionel Messi and David Villa. The trio scored a total of 82 goals the following season, as the club won the 2012–13 La Liga. In 2014, Sánchez transferred to Premier League side Arsenal, where he quickly established himself as the figurehead of the team, winning the FA Community Shield, as well as the FA Cup on two occasions, and scoring in both finals. After lacking "inspiration" at the direction of the club, he signed for rivals Manchester United in a swap deal in 2018. Sánchez has been a full international for Chile since 2006 and has earned 132 caps, making him the team's most capped player of all-time. With 43 goals, he is the country's all-time leading goalscorer. He has represented his nation at two editions of the FIFA World Cup, four editions of the Copa América, and one edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup. He played an instrumental role in helping Chile to reach the final of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, while further leading the side to their first international victory at the 2015 Copa América, scoring the winning penalty in the final against Argentina. He later contributed to a repeat of this triumph, aiding in the side's retention of the trophy and winning player of the tournament at the Copa América Centenario.