Alexis Sanchez misses Manchester United pre-season after being ‘refused entry to US due to visa issues’
Travel complications could be linked to star's 16-month suspended jail sentence, which he accepted in February
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ALEXIS SANCHEZ is missing from Manchester United's pre-season US tour due to complications over his visa, according to reports.
The Chilean accepted a 16-month suspended jail sentence in February and may be granted a waiver to allow him to travel but the process is taking longer than first expected.
Sanchez, 29, was found guilty in February of defrauding the Spanish government over image rights during his time at Barcelona.
The forward avoided a jail term by paying £890,000 in tax PLUS interest.
But Sanchez was curiously missing from United's stateside travelling party on Sunday, instead being spotted in Wilmslow sporting a new-look shaven head.
This is his first summer break in some time after Chile failed to reach the 2018 World Cup, having spent the past four summers on international duty.
Sanchez is the latest in the long line of star players tripped up by the tax authorities in Spain.
Former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano were handed 21-month and one-year suspended sentences respectively, along with £223,000 and £610,000 fines.
Last month Cristiano Ronaldo settled his tax evasion case with a whopping £16.5million fine, admitting four charges of fraud and also avoiding jail, while Luka Modric has also had to pay £880,000.
Those arrested, cautioned for or convicted of an offence anywhere in the world are required to report it when applying for a US visa, with the US Embassy in London advising against travel to individuals who have ever been arrested.
United's other travelling squad members arrived in Los Angeles yesterday ahead of the five-game tour, which will see them train at UCLA.
Their first match is on Thursday against Mexican side Club America, before taking on San Jose Earthquakes of the MLS.
They then play out three International Champions Cup games, starting against AC Milan in Carson, California on July 25.
Three days later they face Liverpool in front of more than 100,000 fans in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before rounding out their tour in Miami against Real Madrid on July 31.