Robin van Persie explains why Alexis Sanchez has failed to follow his example at Man Utd

Robin van Persie believes that Alexis Sanchez has struggled to find success at Manchester United because he is not happy.

Sanchez, 30, joined the Red Devils from Premier League rivals Arsenal in January 2018 but has been unable to replicate the high standards he showed during his time in north London.

The Chile international has scored just five goals in 45 matches for United and netted just once in the league last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho.

Poor performances and a well-publicised wage bill have seen Sanchez regularly criticised by the club’s fanbase, and former United striker Van Persie thinks that the forward’s performances are being affected by his mental state.

“He doesn’t look very happy to me,” said Van Persie, via the Mail on Sunday . “He looked happy at Arsenal. He doesn’t look happy now.

“What I’ve seen and felt over the years is that how you feel mentally, how your life is, has a big influence.”

He continued: “If you’re happy, you’re 50 per cent fitter, you create more and you enjoy yourself…. so he should find a way mentally to change that.”

Like Sanchez, Van Persie left the Gunners to make the move to the Red Devils, but had much more success in his three seasons at the club.

The former Feyenoord goalscorer, who was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson, found the net 58 times in 105 appearances for United.

He scored 26 league goals in his first season and helped the club to the Premier League title – a feat they haven’t achieved since then.

However, Van Persie, who joined a United squad full of senior, experienced players, also noted that Sanchez came into a more challenging environment upon his arrival at Old Trafford.

“It’s a different time. Over the past couple of years a lot has changed,” continued the Dutchman, who is about to start a new role as a pundit for BT Sport following his retirement at the end of last season.

“He joined a team that was not really playing attacking football.”

He added: “I came into a team with all the mature players already – Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick.

“Basically at Arsenal I was one of the older ones, captain, and here I could just come in and have fun, because the guys sorted all the other stuff.

“Sir Alex (Ferguson) played a huge role in that as well. He was a real joy to work with.”