Manchester United loanee Alexis Sanchez could be set for a lengthy spell on the side-lines after sustaining a serious ankle injury whilst on international duty. It is yet another setback in the Chilean’s pursuit to rekindle his best form.
The Red Devils’ highest earner who is on loan at Inter Milan for the season dislocated tendons in his ankle during Chile’s goalless heated draw with Colombia on Saturday, the Chilean FA confirmed.
Sanchez will return to Milan for scans to determine the extent of the problem, where Antonio Conte will be hoping that the injury isn’t as severe as first feared.
A statement on the Radio Cooperativa website read: “Alexis will travel as soon as possible to Italy, with Inter’s doctors, rigorous examinations will be carried out to see the extent of his injury.
“The Chilean Federation reported that Alexis suffered a dislocation of left ankle butteon tendons with retinacle commitment and returns to Milan, where magnetic resonance imaging and dynamic ultrasound studies will be performed for make the best therapeutic decision.”
What impact could this have on United?
Sanchez will still hope that a move back to Italy, where he came to prominence playing for Udinese will be the right move he needed to kickstart his career one more.
He endured a difficult 18 months at United after signing from Arsenal back in January 2018. The 30-year-old has made four appearances for the Italian club this season and scored one goal.
He missed their last league game against Juventus through suspension after he was sent off in the win against Sampdoria, his full Inter debut, following a second booking for diving.
If Sanchez is out of action for a long period of time, it will mean that he is under added pressure to perform at a high level in the second part of the campaign in a bid to prove to Conte he is worth signing on a full-time basis.
The worry for the Italian giants would be that Sanchez is starting to get too many injuries, maybe all the hard yards and games the Chilean has played year in year out for club and country is finally taking its toll on his body.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hope that Sanchez makes a swift return to form and fitness, or United may face the prospect Chilean coming back to Old Trafford and being stuck with him.
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