MANCHESTER CITY might well think they have taken the moral high ground in the battle for Alexis Sanchez.
The truth is they have been dealt a major blow.
Not one that is going to knock them off course this season as they are already over the hill and far away in this title race.
But there is no doubt the nearest side to them has been empowered by the signing of
the Chilean forward.
City claimed they had pulled out of the race because the wages for the player, due to his contract situation, were excessive.
They have been estimated at around £505,000 a week.
Given the amount of money City have shelled out left, right and centre since Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008, it does seem odd that now they have decided to rein it in.
Or was this damage limitation because Sanchez had decided it was Manchester Unitedwho wanted him more?
After all, they did not quibble about the deal after the
Etihad had appeared to be his destination of choice.
United just went out and got him.
City seem very blase about it. And given the 12-point cushion they have at the top of the
Premier League, why shouldn’t they be?
Yes, it would have been difficult to find a regular place for him in the team given the players at
Pep Guardiola’s disposal. But the deal is a big boost for their closest rivals.
A club that is not content with a top-four spot and
Champions League football but one who is after City and will not give up until they are back challenging for the top spot.
This has been a great move for United and for Sanchez.
Some think he has made the wrong move as City are flying right now.
But what has happened this season and the relative league positions has not yet seen them usurp United as, arguably, one of if not the biggest club in the world.
Sanchez will give Jose Mourinho what his team is lacking at the moment.
Defensively they are excellent.
With
Nemanja Matic and
Paul Pogba they have a great midfield too.
There is no doubt there is talent in attack but they do not finish teams off and that is not just down to missing chances in front of goal, it is down to not creating enough. I believe the final ball has been lacking.
Saturday at Burnley was another example of this when they got away with a hard-fought 1-0 win.
The space and opportunities United had going forward should have produced more goals.
The final pass, however, either did not come, was misplaced, or the wrong choice was made.
Sanchez will not only improve this but also be there to add the finishing touch.
I can see United lining up with a front three of Sanchez,
Anthony Martial and
Romelu Lukaku with
Jesse Lingard in behind.
The options are plentiful.
This United team is a still a long way behind City, of that there is no doubt.
But their spending will not stop and their determination to overhaul City will not dim. It makes for a fascinating scenario going forward.
Football needs City to have a major challenger and right now United are the best bet.
Believe me, money does not come into it as much as you would think.
For some, yes, but, fundamentally, top players want to challenge themselves.
They are a long time retired.
Which is why Sanchez understandably was not prepared to hang around at Arsenal any more, where the ambition is lacking with a manager and a club that have lost their way.
It is not just Sanchez who thinks it.
Mesut Ozil had a great game on Saturday but he will be a free agent in the summer too . . . United might even open the door for him.
The draw of a move to Old Trafford remains strong and City will know that.