Highly-rated Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez is set to snub Manchester City and sign for European champions Barcelona this week, according to Chilean press reports.
The 22-year-old will sign for €35 million from Serie A side Udinese, for whom he scored 12 goals last season as they qualified for next season’s Champions League, according to El Mercurio newspaper.
Sanchez, who also impressed at last year’s World Cup finals where Chile reached the second round, will be allowed by Chilean national coach Claudio Borghi to sort out his future this week interrupting his preparation for next month’s Copa America.
Sanchez has reportedly been the subject of three concrete bids, from Manchester City, Manchester United and Spain’s Barcelona.
However, his agent was quoted in the newspaper as saying that the player told him: “Apparently, I could become the best player in the world so it is fitting that I play for the best team in the world.”