In the starry sky of Inter Milan, Lautaro Martinez is undoubtedly the brightest star. However, when our eyes are slightly off, we will find another star, although slightly dim, but still shining with tenacity - Chilean striker Sanchez.
At the age of 35, Sanchez's career is like a legendary drama with ups and downs. Starting with Udinese in Serie A, he has progressively made his mark in Barcelona in La Liga, Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League, and Inter Milan in Serie A. He's the kind of player who shines his light on the pitch no matter where he is. At his peak, Arsenal in the 16-17 season, he was like a god of war, starting 47 games, scoring 30 goals and providing 15 assists, which made the world look at it.
However, there is always a twilight time for heroes. When Alexis Sanchez returned to Inter from Marseille, his form fell into an unprecedented slump. In his first 20 games, he scored just two goals, all from penalties in the Champions League. In Serie A, he was once embarrassed to hand over the data of 0 goals and 0 assists. He and Arnautovic, the "old" partner in the striker, were once considered Inter's weakest link.
But what makes heroes heroes is that they can rise in the face of adversity. When the main striker Thuram was injured, Sanchez finally got back-to-back appearances. He has scored one goal and provided three assists in his last three games, announcing his return with amazing competitive form. He proved that he can still play in the top flight and contribute to the team.
Sanchez's career has been full of pride and scrape. He was a key player, leading the Chilean national team to the Copa America twice, beating Argentina with Messi and Brazil with Neymar head-on. He left Barcelona because he was unwilling to become a rotation player, choosing to take on the responsibility of leadership at Arsenal. He did not want to just get a high salary on the bench at Manchester United, and chose to take a pay cut to join Inter. Even at the age of 35, he still chose to return to Inter Milan with a low salary to continue chasing his football dream.
For Sanchez, money and fame have never been his goal, he only pursues football with competitive value. In his resume, he already has the Copa America, La Liga title, Serie A title and other honors, but he lacks a Champions League title. That's why he chose to stick with Inter in the twilight of his career.
This season, Inter Milan leads the top five leagues in terms of both offensive and defensive stats, and has already sealed the title in Serie A with a 15-point advantage. When Sanchez and Arnautovic, the "old partners" of the substitute strikers, revived and added strong endurance to the team's forward line, Inter's overall strength was undoubtedly further improved. Perhaps in this year's Champions League, the 35-year-old is expected to fulfill the last dream of his career.
Sanchez's story tells us that in the world of football, there are no permanent underdogs, only fighters who refuse to give up. As long as there is love and dreams in the heart, age is never a problem. Let's look forward to Sanchez's wonderful performance in the Champions League!