WHY THIS MOVE HAS ELEVATED ALEXIS

Ahead of Alexis Sanchez's Old Trafford debut for Manchester United against Huddersfield Town, we spoke with journalist Bastian Llanos from La Segunda to ask about how the Chilean's arrival has been received back home.

What impact do you think the Alexis signing has had in Chile?This transfer made him one of the most important players in Chile’s history. Now that he plays for United, his CV is more important than any other player. We  have had players such as Marcelo Salas, who had success in Juventus and Lazio, and Ivan Zamorano, with Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Alexis was at Barcelona and had one of the best moments of his career but there isn't a club with as much history as Manchester United. So, with this transfer, Alexis becomes the player with the most important CV in Chile's history.
Do you think more people will follow United because of Alexis Sanchez?Of course, when he went to Arsenal, people started following them but Manchester United already have a lot of followers in Chile and, with Alexis, a lot more people will stop following Arsenal and will start supporting United. It's guaranteed to happen.
What kind of personality is Alexis and how much fame does he have?Well, in Chile, people are fanatical about Alexis. When there was talk of a possible transfer to Manchester City last summer, Chile were playing Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier but half of Chile had their eyes on the game and the other half on the transfer that, in the end, did not happen. People from Chile live in the first person the transfers of these players. Alexis is not a person that talks a lot or whom you see speaking a lot with the media. He is a reserved person and you only know a bit about him through his social media, and without a lot of exposure.
What did people think Alexis would achieve in his career?When he went to Europe (with Udinese), he returned for a while to River Plate and had good reviews. He was committed but people weren't expecting the magnitude of what he has achieved. Alexis did very well in Udinese but people didn't believe he'd be one of the top players in the Premier League or the top scorer in the history of the Chilean national team. We knew he was a good player but we never thought he would convert himself into the worldwide star that he has become.
What role do you think he will have in the team, with his personality and quality?With a little bit of confidence, he is a very charismatic and very funny guy. He has a lot of friends in the national team and is one of those who is always making jokes. In relation to the way he can perform, he has everything to become a star in the United team. I believe that he is a player that can adapt quickly to what the team needs from him. And, if Jose Mourinho chose him, it is because he considers him to be important. Without a doubt, Alexis will become one of the main players and very important for the team.
What do you think of the choice of the no.7 shirt?He has been playing with the no.7 for a long time, Alexis is the no.7 in 'La Roja' [Chile] and has won many trophies in that shirt, such as the Copa America, and become top scorer in the national team. With such a big history in that shirt at United - Cristiano Ronaldo and Eric Cantona for example - I think he will suit it very well. He will have the projection he deserves."