Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez slammed by former Chile coach for being too ‘fat’ following Man City transfer saga
Ex-youth boss Jose Sulantay blames wantaway Gunners ace's energy levels for flopping in Paraguay loss.
ARSENAL star Alexis Sanchez has been criticised for being "fatter than normal" by former Chile Under-20 boss Jose Sulantay.
The 28-year-old - recently in action for the Copa America champions against Paraguay - was slammed after his country lost 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday.
Sanchez failed to inspire his team-mates as they were humbled by Francisco Arce's side at home - leaving their hopes of qualifying for Russia in the balance.
Chile currently sit in fourth spot - the final automatic qualifying place in the South American Preliminary Competition for the 2018 World Cup - with the fifth-placed side facing an Oceanic country in a play-off.
In an enthralling group, only five points separate Colombia in second to Ecuador in eighth - Argentina currently occupy fifth spot.
The danger of missing out has led Sulantay - now in charge of Chilean second-tier side Cobreloa - to hit out at the ex-Barcelona ace.
"He's fatter than normal.
"Without his spark, he never left that Paraguayan defence behind. He never made a diagonal run, it was something else. It was not Alexis.
"This can bring you problems later, the statements of wanting to leave. The team-mates must have felt nothing for him."
Sanchez saw a £60million move to Manchester City fall through on Deadline Day, as the Gunners failed in a £92m approach to lure Thomas Lemar away from Monaco.
The two-time FA Cup winner reportedly told all his Chile team-mates he was joining the Citizens, but his future still lies at the Emirates.
It remains to be seen whether Arsene Wenger will select him in his starting XI when Arsenal face Bournemouth next Saturday.