The Chilean striker has endured a difficult start to life at Old Trafford but this is not the first slow burn failure with Alexis Sanchez making 10 appearances for United. fact. Alexis Sanchez has endured a testing spell at Old Trafford following a high-profile move from Arsenal. The truth is, Alexis Sanchez is a waste of time and has the most expensive contract in the Premier League. Opinion. Unfortunately for the Chile forward, that opinion is spreading like wildfire, with critics quick to jump on the passing Rangers side after seeing a supposed star showing signs of weakness.

Sanchez is an easy target - Manchester United pay him around ￡450,000-a-week and are delighted with their ability to 'noisy' Manchester City's most popular signing during the January transfer window.

The decision, which leaves the 28-year-old with a Premier League title win at the Etihad Stadium, should be the Red Devils' ambition and attraction for the best performers on the planet.

Things did not go to plan.

A player whose recruitment lit up the creative fuse around Mourinho faces accusations of extinguishing the spark, requiring tactical tinkering to press him into a starting XI , the benefits of doing so go far beyond that. United legend Roy Keane told the South Americans he "has to do better", while Gary Neville admitted Sanchez "has been a disappointment since he arrived".

Paul Ince has further stated to Paddy Power: "Sanchez keeps trying to do things and make things happen, but the more he does it, the worse he gets. I bet he probably wants to wait until Go to another team after this season. It's clear from seeing Manchester United that he doesn't fit the way Mourinho plays football. "

Ouch.

All of the above comments make valid points about the present, but here's the problem - they are all indicative of the short-term thinking of modern football and fail to notice the bigger picture.

Managers were shocked to do early business in the summer transfer window and for some reason complained about the nature of the winter market, where they wanted to get players in and have time before integrating them into the squad Work with them.

Sanchez at Old Trafford does not have that luxury. He has sunk into the proverbial abyss, having to change his game to meet Mourinho's contrasting demands - he no longer has the chance to become the deluxe player in Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side.

To be fair to him, he has started his game - with more recoveries, tackles etc. than he did in previous starts at Barcelona and the Emirates Stadium.

However, he will be judged on the final product.

History shows, though, that Sanchez can be a slow burner whose full potential can only be unlocked if given the time and patience to adapt to new surroundings and shine.

You could argue that someone paying nearly half a million pounds a week to run a football pitch shouldn't require an adjustment period, but that's not the way real life works.

At Barcelona, ??Sanchez played just once in his nine games, provided just one assist and created just four chances.

After joining Arsenal, he did not find a target until his fifth appearance and made just three efforts and one assist in his first few months in north London

Hence, His opening minutes for United looked equal - he added two assists to his solitary goal.

Mourinho has already hinted that the Red Devils will not see the best of their new man ahead of the 2018-19 season, saying: "He comes into the worst moment of the season, which is the winter market, and I Thinking it was an opportunity, we didn't want to lose, but we did it, but we didn't believe in the winter market and for sure, next season will be better for him. "

This. It's a bigger picture. United will once again spend the summer with part of their recruitment project being shaped by how to get the best out of Sanchez's strengths. They signed a proven performer for some reason and wouldn't write him off eight weeks later - no matter what anyone else thought.

It is temporary and permanent. fact.