Johan Cruyff has assessed that Alexis Sanchez has the talent to fit in at Barcelona as ‘he gives the team something that others do not have’.
Sanchez has struggled for consistency at the Camp Nou since a 2011 transfer from Udinese and has been strongly linked with a move back to Serie A this coming summer, with Juventus and Inter said to be interested.
However, in seeing the Chilean score two and set up a further two for Barcelona in their 5-0 win over Mallorca at the weekend, retired player and Coach Cruyff has advised his former team to maintain their faith.
“Alexis Sanchez is widely criticised. It is said that he is not at the level to play at Barca,” wrote the Dutchman in his regular column for De Telegraaf this week.
“But I saw him play against Mallorca and saw a quality player who gives the team something that others do not have.
“For the first goal he was technically perfect. Moreover, two assists and two goals in the victory was decisive.
“Of course Sanchez is not Messi, but the club should be happy to have a player of this quality in the squad.”
