Football
ESPN staff 6y

Alexis Sanchez destined to play at Manchester United - Romelu Lukaku

Alexis Sanchez was "destined" to play for Manchester United and has impressed his new teammates with his will to win, striker Romelu Lukaku has told Sky Sports.

Sanchez, 29, moved to Old Trafford from Arsenal in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, as his contract was set to expire this summer, but lost on his Premier League debut -- 2-0 to Tottenham.

However, Lukaku insists that United will see the best of the Chile international soon and isn't worried about the extra competition for places if it benefits the team.

"I work hard and do everything to make sure I am in the starting line-up. It is the manager's choice [if I am picked], but he knows what I can do for the team -- I score goals and give assists and I think in my short time here I have been important for the team," he said.

"He [Sanchez] is a Manchester United player -- he was destined to play here. He deserves to be on the big stage. It was something he wanted as well.

"He has a lot of experience after playing for Barcelona and Arsenal. I admire the quality he has on the ball, but especially his will to win. People were criticising him for being moody, but he is not like that. He is a just a winner.

"I speak Spanish, so it is easy for me to communicate with him. He speaks good English as well. We always try to make a player feel comfortable, and he feels very comfortable here now. I think we will see the best of him."

United manager Jose Mourinho signed a new deal last week and although he virtually conceded the league title to Manchester City -- as they trail the leaders by 15 points with 13 games to go -- Lukaku believes they must keep fighting.

"Of course it is good [Mourinho's new contract], everything is stable," Lukaku added. "He can continue building on what he is building now. Everybody knows how the manager works.

"If we do everything right until the end of the season, add in some reinforcements in the summer, we will be even stronger than we are now.

"I do not think the same as the manager. It [the league] is not done yet, we have to keep fighting."

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