Alexis Sanchez - making the best better

Is Sanchez Barca bound?

The Champions League final saw a Barcelona side completely outplay England's best team leaving Manchester United licking their wounds after the most one-sided 3-1 victory in the history of football. Many sceptics believed this was the best Barca side since it was founded back in 1899, even eclipsing Johan Cruyff's 'dream team' that tore teams apart between 1988 and 1996.

What fans were witnessing on the 28th of May was total football. The elegance of the play, the beauty of possession football and the highest technical ability on display completely showed up Barcelona's European counterparts on home-soil. Some had predicted that United would extract revenge after their 2009 humbling in Rome and, like in Rome; United came flying out the blocks in search of the early goal.

With a bombardment of attacks in the opening 15 minutes, many teams would have hit the self-destruct button. Alas, Barcelona remained calm and continued to play the ball around in their own majestic way. And it paid off when Pedro broke the deadlock in the 27th minute. Many teams would have then shut-up shop and attempted to throw men behind the ball in order to defend the 1-0 lead.

Yet even when Wayne Rooney equalised in the 34th minute, Barca barely broke into a sweat. Lionel Messi and David Villa both scored spectacular goals in the second half that saw the Catalan side rout to a 3-1 win in the biggest European game in recent history. Many who watched that game thought the side couldn't get better in any capacity.

However, Barca are in talks to better the best with the acquisition of one player; Alexis Sanchez. The 22-year-old has become hot property in recent months after a superb showing in last year’s World Cup while excelling for an Udinese side that will be participating in the Champions League for the first time in their history next season.

His 12 goals were pivotal to the success of the Italian side as he formed a deadly partnership with Antonio Di Natale. But it isn't just his goals that have attracted the interest of Europe's finest sides. His eccentricity, dribbling ability, pace in abundance and, as his 12 goals proves, keen eye for goal have left potential suitors drooling at the prospect of adding the Chilean to their ranks.

United and Manchester City have both been credited with an interest in the 22-year-old and at point, City were said to be leading the race for his signature with Udinese president Giampaolo Pozzo admitting that only City's financial backing could see Sanchez leave. However, Barca have since emerged as front-runners and despite reports that a deal is done, Pozzo has denied that Sanchez is set for a move to the Nou Camp. 

The reported deal of £24.6m plus add-ons and Jonathan Soriano fell way short of the asking price set in place by the Udinese hierarchy. However, you can expect an improved offer to be tabled and Sanchez to be a Barcelona player come the new season.

But where will he fit in? The front-three of Pedro, Villa and Messi will be difficult to break-up but with the quality that Sanchez possess, he surely slot-in alongside Messi and Villa. Unfortunately for Pedro, it looks as though the La Masia youth product will suffer the drop to make way for Sanchez. He will bring more to attacking trio than the Spanish international does while the Chilean winger is still younger than Pedro.

Either way, with Sanchez set to be teaming up with Messi and co. ready for the new season with reports in the Spanish media suggesting a deal is 80% complete, the best team in the world are surely about to become just that little bit better.

Anyway, I have got to go to work.

Laters,

Macca