Sanchez boost relieves Man United pre-season headache

Jose Mourinho’s pre-season headache at Manchester United has eased somewhat with confirmation star forward Alexis Sanchez’s visa problem has been resolved.

Sanchez was absent from United’s flight to Los Angeles on Sunday due to what the Premier League side said was an “administrative issue”.

It later emerged American authorities hadn’t granted Sanchez a visa, reportedly because the former Arsenal star accepted a 16-month suspended prison sentence in Spain over a tax issue.

Speaking about the Sanchez’s absence at a press conference on Wednesday, United manager Jose Mourinho said: “It’s really bad and he’s really sad. It’s not good for him and not good for me, or for the team.

“There is no-one to blame. I know the club is making the effort but the US authorities have their processes.”

But Sanchez has now been given the visa after all and can link up with Mourinho’s squad as they start their build-up to the new Premier League season.

“Sanchez’s issue is all sorted and he will fly out to the USA very shortly,” a United spokesperson told the Guardian on Thursday.

Sanchez posted a picture on Instagram on Thursday accompanied by the caption: “The last training in Manchester, soon” followed by a picture of the US flag.

Mourinho has bemoaned the lack of players at his disposal in America, with a large chunk of United’s first team regulars given leave after their World Cup exertions.

“The pre-season is very bad. The positive thing is only for the young boys that have a fantastic opportunity to train with us,” Mourinho said.

“Next week will come (David) De Gea, (Nemanja) Matic and Fred which is good, especially for Fred.

“He is a new player with us but everything is really bad and then we go to the UK and have to play the Premier League.

“The broadcasters were not nice to us with the Friday match (against Leicester City on August 10th), which complicates more things.

“So I’m worried because I’m not training (with everyone) and then I go to the Premier League without lots of players.

But it is what it is and we have to try and make the best out of it with the players we have here.”

United play the first match of their tour against Club America in Phoenix on Thursday, before taking on San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday.

Mourinho’s men are also scheduled to face AC Milan, Liverpool and Real Madrid before opening their Premier League campaign against Leicester on August 10.

With Omnisport