Alexis Sanchez: "Leaving Barca wasn't easy"

Posted Tuesday, February 23, 2016 by Marca.com

Alexis Sanchez:

It will be a special night for Chile international Alexis Sanchez as he takes to the pitch with Arsenal to face Barcelona, the club he left to join the Gunners in 2014, for the first time in his career.

"I never regret my decisions", the striker told English newspaper 'Daily Mirror' with regards to his departure from the Catalan club. "It wasn't easy to leave Barcelona, but very few players stay in the same club all their life. To leave is normal".

Despite not being on a great run of form, Sanchez plays a pivotal role in the Londoners' attack. He was Arsenal's top scorer last season with 25 goals and is their second highest this campaign, with 10, behind France's Olivier Giroud (18). He will be looking to get one over on his former teammates in tomorrow's Champions League last sixteen first leg.

Alexis left Barcelona in July 2014 and was replaced by Liverpool's Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez.

Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano compared the two goalscorers ahead of the game at the Emirates Stadium: "Alexis has some elements of Suarez because he's a fighter, a player who never gives up on a ball and leaves it all out on the pitch", said the Argentine.