Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez wrote an emotional goodbye message on Instagram for Arsenal Football Club after his transfer to Manchester United was confirmed on Monday.

The 29-year-old is moving to Old Trafford after signing what is reported to be a four-and-a-half-year contract that will make him the highest-paid player in the Premier League. According to reports, Sanchez will earn a pre-tax salary of £500,000 (Rs 4.45 crore) a week.

The swap deal, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving the other way, brought an end to Sanchez’s three-and-a-half year stint at Arsenal after joining the London club for £31.7 million in 2014. He had tried to orchestrate a move to Manchester City last year and it was even reported that the Etihad Stadium was his primary transfer target in the current January window.

However, Manchester City pulled out, reportedly because of the Chilean’s high wage demands, before Manchester United swooped in.

Sanchez said he was “thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world” after being unveiled at Old Trafford on Monday.

However, in an Instagram post, he hit back at critics, mostly former Arsenal players, who had lashed out at him for wanting to move out of the club. Last week, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown called Sanchez “football’s biggest mercenary”.

Sanchez wrote, “There are people (former club players) who have spoken with no knowledge of what happens inside the club and cause damage. I must say I always gave 100%, until the last day, when I asked to the manager to be in the team, because I wanted to contribute.”

He added, “I remember today, a conversation I had with [Thierry] Henry, a historic Arsenal player, who left the club for the same reason and today it’s my turn.”

Henry’s official reason for leaving Arsenal in the summer of 2007 was the shock departure of club vice-chairman David Dein and uncertainty over the future of manager Arsene Wenger. As it turns out, Wenger continues to be Arsenal manager more than 10 years after Henry’s exit.

However, Sanchez’s remark gives the impression the Frenchman also had other reasons to leave, which he supposedly shared with the Chilean during a conversation.

Sanchez also thanked the Arsenal technical staff, the medical team, and his former teammates “with whom I shared many nice things”.

Here is the entire post:

Quiero agradecer al Staff Técnico, al equipo médico, a todos los compañeros con los que compartí muchas cosas lindas para el club y en especial a todas esas personas que no se ven en las portadas, pero que sin ellos nada seria posible, que son los que te preparan la comida y te cuidan día día, los que nos mantienen los zapatos limpios y campos de fútbol en las mejores condiciones para entrenar. Mil gracias a Ustedes por ayudarnos a mejorar cada día. Gracias por tanto cariño 😢. Hay personas (ex jugadores del club) que han hablado sin conocimiento de lo que ocurre en la interna y causan daño. Debo decir que siempre me entregué al 100%, hasta el último día, en que le pedí al Mister estar con el equipo, por que quería ser un aporte. Recuerdo hoy, una conversación que tuve con Henry, un histórico de Arsenal, que cambió de club, por la misma razón que hoy me toca a mi. Gracias por todo Gunners ! I want to say thanks to the Technical Staff, to the medical team and all teammates with whom I shared many nice things for the club and especially those people who do not see themselves on the covers, but without them nothing would be possible, which are there to prepare food for us and take care of us day by day, those who keep our shoes clean and the grass in the best conditions. Many thanks to you for helping us to improve every day. Thank you very much 😢. There are people (former club players) who have spoken with no knowledge of what happens inside the club and cause damage. I must say I always gave 100%, until the last day, when I asked to the Mister to be in the team, because I wanted to be a contribution. I remember today, a conversation I had with Henry, a historic Arsenal player, who changed club for the same reason and today is my turn. Thanks for everything Gunners! All we achieved and the good moments that I gave to the club, I want to dedicate it to the fans, they are the most important. Thanks for every time you sing Alexis Sanchez Baby

A post shared by Alexis Sanchez (@alexis_officia1) on