Jose Mourinho doesn’t believe Alexis Sanchez wants to leave Manchester United in January, but suggested he will not stand in the way if the Chilean decides to quit Old Trafford.
Sanchez has struggled since his move from Arsenal and was left on the bench for the 3-1 derby defeat to Manchester City before the international break.
It has prompted speculation the 29-year-old, who has scored just once in 11 appearances this season, could seek to leave when the transfer window opens.
“I don’t think so because he never told me that he wants to leave or isn’t happy to stay,” Mourinho told a news conference ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.
Mourinho, however, has said repeatedly he will not look to keep a player at the club who is unhappy and the 55-year-old hinted he would apply the same thinking to Sanchez.
“That’s me,” he said. “That is a personal thing related to my philosophy.”
Sanchez has been in and out of Mourinho’s team this season and has started just one of United’s last six Premier League games.
He has been substituted in six of his seven starts in all competitions this season, but Mourinho said the former Barcelona man is getting better.
“He is improving like the team is improving,” said the United manager. “When he plays he is giving us his personality, his desire to play and to produce for the team and trying to adapt to how we play and vice versa, can he do better? I think we can all do better.
“I can do better and he can do better and all the other players can also do better.”
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