The 36-year-old Alexis Sánchez joined Sevilla as a free agent this summer and will wear the team’s No. 10 jersey. In an interview, the veteran forward stated that he still has much to contribute to the club.
Sánchez said, “These past few days have been intense, and I’ve been waiting for this opportunity—filled with anticipation as always: coming to Sevilla and playing for a team with such amazing fans. I faced Sevilla twice here during my time at Manchester United and Barcelona, and this stadium and its supporters are truly awe-inspiring.”
“This is a chance to join a big club like Sevilla. I also had many opportunities to return to South America, but I’m in good physical shape right now and can still stay in Europe. Having played here as an opponent, I know how wonderful this stadium and its fans are. I think the club deserves to be in a higher position than it is now; Sevilla should, like it used to, always be competing for Champions League spots and winning trophies like the Europa League. It needs to get back to the top.”
When asked about his age and whether he can maintain his form, Sánchez replied, “I believe one must be professional. If a player is in good physical condition and stays professional in what they do, I’m sure they can prove themselves. As long as you perform well on the pitch, age is just a number.”
“I’ve always been hungry and experienced—always wanting to move forward, always wanting to win. No matter where I’ve been, I’ve won trophies. If I’m here, it’s because I want to compete for trophies, not just to play.”
Regarding his position on the pitch, Sánchez explained, “Among the three attacking positions, I can adapt well to the central role. But as long as I can help the team and the coach… that’s what matters, and I also want to help the young players. After talking with Almeida, we quickly built a connection. I think we have some similarities, or rather, I share some similarities with him. We both have the same drive to move forward, to stay united, and to achieve great things at Sevilla. I’ll do my best; I’m here to bring joy to them, the entire team, and the coaching staff, and we’ll move forward together.”
Speaking of his fellow Chilean teammate Suazo in the squad, Sánchez said, “I know him from the Chilean national team. We know each other well and are very familiar with each other’s style of play. I understand how he plays—he’s a professional player both for the national team and all the clubs he’s played for. He’s with the national team right now, but we’ll have plenty of conversations once he’s back.”
Finally, he emphasized the reason he joined Sevilla: “The people of Sevilla are unique—that’s one of the reasons I’m here. Fans sometimes make you even more eager to take the pitch, because in the end, you’re playing alongside ‘the 12th man’ (the fans).”
