Sanchez is set to join Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
Sanchez is set to join Manchester United (Picture: Getty)

Gary Neville has questioned Manchester City’s decision to allow Alexis Sanchez to join Manchester United, and insisted the decision makes no sense from a financial perspective.

The former United right-back thought the Arsenal attacker would link-up with his old Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, but City have pulled out of the race, leaving their Manchester rivals clear to sign him.

Neville admitted to being in disbelief that City are allowing the Chile international to slip through their fingers.

And he was confused why they wouldn’t sanction a deal, particularly having spent so big on players like Kyle Walker in the summer.

‘I don’t think anybody thought anything other than Alexis Sanchez would be playing for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but from what we hear he’s close to signing for Manchester United,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘I still don’t believe that because I just don’t see the economics.

‘I’m just looking at it economically. Manchester United have apparently offered £35million, £5m for an agent fee and £350,000-a-week which comes in at just over £100m for Alexis Sanchez, who is 29 years old.

‘City are apparently saying they won’t pay more than £72m. Gone are the days where you can think a Bosman signing is going to cost you less than it would do if you were paying a fee to a club.

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‘If Sanchez had two years left on his contract you’d have to pay Arsenal £75m to £80m and him £200,000 to £250,000-a-week. It would cost you £100m. He’s going to cost £100m anyway so I’m not quite sure what City’s economics are, particularly when they’ve spent £50m on Kyle Walker and the package of his wages over five years might cost £80m.

‘They’re willing to put more into Walker than they are Sanchez. I’m struggling to see why it doesn’t make sense for City to pay more to get Sanchez because ultimately it seems to me City think they can get him cheaper than the market would be offering for a player of that quality. That’s what doesn’t make sense to me.

‘When you are Manchester United you spend £95m on Paul Pogba, you spend £80m on Romelu Lukaku and with the wages you’ve got £120m and even £150m invested in both of them.

Neville was confused by the approach (Picture: AMA/Getty)

‘Sanchez becomes quite cheap at £100m. if you think about Neymar at £200m and Philippe Coutinho at £140m, I get the point on the morals, but I’m not sure why City won’t match them financially.

‘I do not understand the economics from City to think they can only offer a £70m package for a player that should be worth £120m to £130m in the market. I don’t understand it, it doesn’t make sense.

‘They’ve always been a club that have matched United toe-to-toe for money. I don’t understand why they think they don’t have to now.’

Speaking last night, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said Sanchez would a great signing – whoever he joined.

‘No news on Alexis Sanchez, he is an Arsenal player,’ he said. ‘If he stays it’s great for Arsenal, if he comes to us, great for us. If he goes to another club, great for them.’