In the worst kept secret of this transfer window, Alexis Sanchez moved to Manchester United from Arsenal in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan on Monday night.
The 29-year-old Chile striker, who came close to joining Manchester City last summer, has signed what is believed to be a four-and-a-half-year contract that will make him the highest-paid player in the Premier League. It has been widely reported that Sanchez will earn a pre-tax salary of £500,000 ($695,000, 567,000 euros) a week. Armenia international winger Mkhitaryan, also 29, will head to the Emirates after he fell out of favour with United manager Jose Mourinho during 18 months at Old Trafford.
Even before it was finalised, the deal had the attention of the media and fans and when it was finally announced - with the Chilean playing the piano to boot - it was trending all over social media.
From stats to jokes and digs, Twitter was full of emotions at the rare swap deal between two top clubs. Here’s a look
The perfect #MondayMotivation! 👌
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 22, 2018
@Alexis_Sanchez #Alexis7 pic.twitter.com/XV1u2VOHvr
Overjoyed and honoured to sign for the club I supported as a boy😄 @Arsenal #WeAreTheArsenal pic.twitter.com/si7cm0mojh
— Henrikh Mkhitaryan (@HenrikhMkh) January 22, 2018
Hello, Is That @Alexis_Sanchez ?😳🔥 Welcome To @ManUtd 🔴 I Knew You Wanted To Come Milly Rock With The Mandem 🕺🏼👀 #manchesterunited #JLingz pic.twitter.com/n7qJk73QhW
— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) January 22, 2018
Welcome to your new home @HenrikhMkh 🙌 #COYG https://t.co/9SiUGJ3KiU
— Héctor Bellerín (@HectorBellerin) January 22, 2018
Some number-crunching
5 - Henrikh Mkhitaryan assisted five goals in his first three Premier League apps this season; equalling the PL record by a player in their first three apps of a PL season (alongside Ruel Fox in 1994-95). He's not assisted in 12 league apps since (684 mins), however. Switch. pic.twitter.com/PuvWczIkC7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 22, 2018
Alexis Sanchez will become the first Chilean player to represent Manchester United's first team. 🇨🇱 pic.twitter.com/yBJwqVYRfo
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 22, 2018
9 - Only Paul Pogba (9) has more Premier League assists for Man Utd than Henrikh Mkhitaryan this season, despite the Armenian starting just two games since the end of October. Delivered. pic.twitter.com/q5KVZJESLt
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 22, 2018
Alexis Sanchez: Since moving to the Premier League in 2014, only Sergio Aguero (76), Romelu Lukaku (75) and Harry Kane (74) have had a direct hand in more goals from open play than @Alexis_Sanchez (70 -- 48 goals, 22 assists)
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 22, 2018
Full player stats -- https://t.co/ojSfRKiTBQ pic.twitter.com/cCDbYr82wn
It's safe to say that Alexis Sanchez killed it at Arsenal. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/x85pHc8ky6
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 22, 2018
Not Sanchez, but his dogs will be missed
Interesting to note that no Arsenal players have farewelled Alexis on social media in the way that they did with Coquelin and Walcott.
— James (@JECook96) January 23, 2018
We hope Arsenal fans keep the banner with Humber and Atom at the Emirates and just remove Sanchez - After all, they're still good boys pic.twitter.com/h0HMe7sRIl
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) January 20, 2018
I was so proud that you used to represent Arsenal. Your banner at the Emirates was my favorite. Seeing your pics made my day every time. I was the happiest person on earth when you came to London. It absolutely kills me to see you go. Good bye Atom and Humber. You was good boys.
— Mike Sanz (@mikesanz19) January 22, 2018
Then there is this
Alexis Sanchez's transfer is a big move for Atom and Humber too.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 22, 2018
We take a look at the best dog walking spots in Manchester: https://t.co/q2mdfBLF5d pic.twitter.com/MX1NDDltb2
So many jokes
Slightly disappointed there wasn't some joint official announcement with lots of dramatic music and the mist rising from a layby at Watford Gap services with Sanchez and Mkhitaryan shoved out of an unmarked car to trudge tentatively past one another into the distance...
— Amy Lawrence (@amylawrence71) January 22, 2018
THE LMAO is happening.
— renato (@rehnato) January 18, 2018
Lacazette
Mkhitaryan
Aubameyang
Ozil
We go again. Arsenal FC are back. pic.twitter.com/NnJaCtb3yM
Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both looking happy enough with the swap deal. pic.twitter.com/LGRHtml8b1
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) January 22, 2018
Mkhitaryan when he sees giroud in training tomorrow morning pic.twitter.com/6w7SNHjOvr
— sam (@IwobiFlick) January 22, 2018
Alexis, the piano man
Got Sanchez to play the piano so opposing teams can face the music
— kenna (@kennagq) January 22, 2018
That's how you reveal
How many times have y'all watched that piano piece by @Alexis_Sanchez ?
— Sadikshya (@Sadikshya_) January 22, 2018
Sanchez can play Piano
— Soldier↪ (@PatohShanqueels) January 22, 2018
Lingard & Pogba can Dance
De Gea will save the videos on PDF
Manchester United is officially a dance school
Did Alexis ever play the piano at Arsenal? Dude came to Old Trafford and played "Glory Glory Man United" so sweetly in like 24 hours.
— Övie (@OvieO) January 22, 2018
Man....
Hoping the media have factored in Alexis Sanchez's piano lessons into his overall cost.
— Coral (@Coral) January 22, 2018
The difference between Arsenal and Man Utd's marketing is staggering.
— Tom Todhunter (@tdhntr) January 22, 2018
Utd use a slick as hell video of Alexis playing "Glory Man Utd" on piano whilst staring up at Old Trafford, (which has just cut me straight to the fucking core, by the way.)
Arsenal post a link to an article.