Alexis Sanchez has told Sport Mediaset that Antonio Conte made him ‘suffer’ through the Tottenham Hotspur manager’s use of the forward while together at Inter Milan last season.
The Chilean winger moved to the San Siro during Italian tactician’s first window at the helm in 2019. He left Manchester United with Romelu Lukaku to represent the Nerazzurri initially on loan. Conte then completed the permanent signing of Sanchez in a free transfer in 2020.
Sanchez agreed to join the Serie A side permanently after producing a strong creative run once the 2019/20 campaign resumed. The 33-year-old offered seven of his nine assists and three of four goals following the coronavirus pandemic-enforced delay in fixtures.
But the 144-cap international only started 10 of his 22 Serie A appearances during his first season in blue-and-black. Conte maintained that trend in year-two, as well, with Sanchez only starting 12 of his 30 outings as Inter Milan clinched their first Scudetto since 2009/10.
Inter Milan star Sanchez hits out at Conte’s treatment
Sanchez has now shared after scoring the winner against Juventus in the Italian Supercoppa how Tottenham boss Conte explained his treatment of the winger while Inter Milan coach.
He also claims Conte caused him pain by only considering the former Arsenal forward to be an impact player. As the Chilean is like a caged animal who has to be freed to be at his best.
“Today, I was hungry to win,” Sanchez said. “I was hoping to play after Lazio. I’m like a lion in a cage. If they let me play, I’m a monster. This is how matches are.
“The more you play, the better you are. I played with Lazio, I thought I’d play again tonight. But today I was hungry, I wanted to win something… I have never gone through a negative period, I just didn’t play. More I play, the better I am.
“He told me that no one was like me and that he would put me in [during] the last 15-minutes because I made a difference. But I replied that he made me suffer, and that he should have put me first.”
Tottenham stars will take note of Sanchez claim
The Tottenham players currently only holding bit-part roles in Conte’s plans will likely take note of Sanchez’s Inter Milan claim. Since he replaced Nuno Espirito Santo at the helm in November, Steven Bergwijn has played just 100-minutes, Joe Rodon 144 and Dele Alli 281.
Spurs are also now considering Bergwijn and Alli’s futures in north London given their lack of game time. The Athletic report Tottenham consider Alli one of the first who can leave and even hope Newcastle make a bid.
Meanwhile, the Evening Standard report Spurs have told Ajax they want to make back most of the £27m paid to PSV Eindhoven for Bergwijn in 2020 after snubbing their £15m offer.
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