LONDON: Alexis Sanchez has admitted to being mentally exhausted after a rough start to his career at Manchester United.
“I know you are tired. I know you are psychologically and emotionally exhausted. But you have to smile and continue,” Sanchez posted in Spanish on Instagram below a photo that showed him with a huge grin as he trained with Chile in Stockholm ahead of friendly with Sweden on Saturday.
Sanchez told reporters earlier in the week he had initially asked to skip friendlies with Sweden and Denmark on Tuesday before reversing his decision.
The 29-year-old joined United from Arsenal in January on a reported salary of £500,000 ($695,000) a week to become the top paid player in Premier League history.
He became one of the fall guys as United were dumped out of the Champions League by Sevilla last 16 last week and was dropped by United manager Jose Mourinho for an FA Cup quarter-final win over Brighton four days later.
Sanchez has scored just once in his first 10 games for United.
“It was a bit rough for me because it’s the first time I’ve changed a team in January,” said Sanchez, who added he had “expected something better” from himself during his first months under Mourinho.
Chile have not qualified for the World Cup in Russia, so Sanchez should get a prolonged summer break for the first time in five years.
Sanchez was a key member of the Chile team that won the Copa America back-to-back in 2015 and 2016, as well as the side that reached the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup and the 2017 Confederations Cup final.
Struggling Alexis Sanchez ‘psychologically and emotionally exhausted’
Struggling Alexis Sanchez ‘psychologically and emotionally exhausted’
First competitors settle into Milan’s Olympic village
- Italy was the first to move in, followed by large delegations from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Japan
- The Olympic Village in Milan is designed to house 1,700 athletes
MILAN: The Olympic Village in Milan officially opened its doors on Friday, one week before the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Games.
“Italy was the first to move in, followed by large delegations from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Japan,” the organizing committee announced in a statement.
“Further arrivals are expected this evening (Friday), including delegations from the Netherlands and Australia,” added Milano-Cortina 2026.
While the opening ceremony takes place on February 6, the competitions start as early as February 4, notably with curling at Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites.
The Olympic Village in Milan is designed to house 1,700 athletes and support staff, as Italy’s economic capital hosts most of the ice sports, including figure skating and ice hockey.
Built by a private developer, it will be converted into student residences after the Paralympic Games from March 6-15.
Another Olympic Village, this one temporary and consisting of 377 mobile homes, has been built in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the venue for the women’s alpine skiing and curling events, as well as bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton.
The 2026 Olympics, the third Winter Games organized by Italy, is spread over northern Italy as organizers favored existing sports facilities and sites accustomed to hosting major events such as Anterselva for biathlon, Bormio and Cortina for alpine skiing and Val di Fiemme for Nordic skiing.
