Alexis Sanchez fails to join Manchester United squad for flight to US for pre-season tour
ALEXIS SANCHEZ was missing as Manchester United made their way to California to begin pre-season training.
The winger, 29, has been enjoying a summer off after Chile failed to qualify for the World Cup and has been given a specific pre-season regime by Jose Mourinho's coaching staff.
And despite being back in the North West, Sanchez has been granted permission to fly out separately by the United boss.
The 29-year-old was spotted outside a restaurant in Wilmslow while the rest of the squad were due to board their plane.
After playing with Chile in each of the last four summers, including the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas and last summer's Confederations Cup, Sanchez needed to put his feet up.
He began training at Carrington last week and Mourinho is bringing him back to fitness slowly, wanting him as fresh as possible for the start of United's season at home to Leicester on August 10.
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Daley Blind was another of United's players who did not not travel with the squad as the Dutch defender nears a return to Ajax.
Diogo Dalot was also spotted at Manchester Airport, after the former Porto defender became Mourinho's first signing of the summer window.
The Portuguese teenager was on crutches as little as six weeks ago and has made solid progress ahead of his first pre-season with United.
United have as many as 12 names out for the entire tour of the United States, with Paul Pogba, David De Gea, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Marouane Fellaini and Romelu Lukaku given three weeks off.
Youngsters Angel Gomes, 17, Mason Greenwood, 16, and Tahith Chong, 18, have also joined up with the squad.
After missing out on France's World Cup campaign, Anthony Martial was also included.
Meanwhile last season's loanees Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Andreas Pereira flew out to California with the contingent.
