Solskjaer Backs Alexis Sanchez to Remain At Old Trafford Despite Calls For Player’s Exit

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants Alexis Sanchez to remain at Manchester United and expects him to prove his critics wrong, reports Dailymail.

Sanchez has interest from Serie A clubs ahead of the European transfer window closing on September 2 but his wages may prove an obstacle to a move.

The total bill for signing Sanchez could potentially cost United up to £560,000 per week, once all aspects of the four-and-a-half-year deal are factored in.

Solskjaer is insistent that Sanchez, who hasn’t completed the full 90 minutes in more than a year for the club, will stay at Old Trafford this season and backed him to make a difference.

“Alexis is such a professional,” Solskjaer said. “He comes in working really hard. He’s part of our squad and is a very good player.

“We don’t have the biggest forward line in numbers and he might end up playing a lot more games than you expect. We expect him to come good.”

Sportsmail has learned that he earns a basic salary of £300,000 a week, plus an additional net payment of £100,000 a week from a £5million-a-year image rights deal.

United must also pay £5million in agent’s fees over the course of the contract to the player’s representative Fernando Felicevich. That’s the equivalent of £21,370 a week.

It’s understood the club inserted a £5million clause into the deal, payable if Sanchez makes 30 starts in a single season — even though he started only 13 times in all competitions last term.

Additional bonuses and employers’ national insurance payments take the potential overall figure to £560,000 a week if Sanchez is successful.

The major problem is getting Sanchez up to speed now and United have arranged private friendlies to boost the fitness of a number of stars.

“He’s had three weeks (training), he’s still a bit behind,” Solskjaer added. “We’ve had a behind closed doors game. He’s doing a little bit of extras. He’ll be integrated. We’ll have more behind closed doors games.”