Wenger questions Sanchez: Why would you want to leave?

Matt Stead

Arsene Wenger “cannot understand” why any player would want to leave Arsenal, with Alexis Sanchez on the verge of joining Manchester United.

Sanchez is expected to complete his move from Arsenal to United within the next 24 hours.

The Chilean had been a long-term target for Manchester City, but United have hijacked the deal by offering Henrikh Mkhitaryan in a straight swap.

Mkhitaryan is thought to have only been Arsenal’s third choice in terms of players they asked for.

Wenger has questioned Sanchez’s motives in leaving Arsenal – although he accepts this is “perhaps his last contract at the top level”.

“I cannot understand anybody wanting to leave Arsenal,” Wenger said. “But in 30 years of doing transfers, you learn a lot about human beings. As a professional, it was perhaps his last contract at the top level and an important contract.

“We did what we tried to do and went as far as we could (with money). Even Manchester City moved out of it in the end. That tells you we had no chance to give him a contract.”