There's no denying Alexis Sanchez is a unique footballer. Not because of the Chilean's quick, intelligent feet or tireless work rate, but because he's the only man to go from a prolific Premier League scorer to an average piano player in one ill-fated transfer.
Too harsh? Maybe. But Sanchez's fall from grace - as well as his unprecedented achievements - must be highlighted. The forward, who is weighing-up his next transfer, is the greatest Chilean footballer of all time... yet he's greatly underachieved in recent years.
It's believed he's set to join Marseille from Inter Milan on a free transfer, rejecting the opportunity to join Galatasaray. Ahead of the transfer, Mirror Football takes a look at the highs and lows of Sanchez's career - including his spell at Manchester United.
Excelling on the continent
Udinese took a chance of Sanchez when they brought him to Europe in July 2008. The winger was exciting, yet his record was modest - scoring 21 goals in four seasons at Chilean sides Cobreloa and Colo-Colo. He also spent time at Argentine outfit River Plate.
And it was until Sanchez's third year in Italy when his career burst into life. He scored 12 Serie A goals during the 2010/11 campaign to win the competition's Player of the Month award in February 2011 and get Pep Guardiola's attention. The Spaniard invited Sanchez to join him at Barcelona in the summer of 2012. Although their time together lasted just one season, the winger continued to perform in Spain. He won six honours at the Camp Nou - including the La Liga title - during a three-year spell.
Sanchez found the net 21 times during his final year at Barcelona, but he was deemed surplus to requirements when Luis Suarez arrived from Liverpool in the summer 2014. Arsenal sensed an opportunity to get a world-class player and splashed the cash.
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Becoming a Premier League star
"Alexis will add power, creativity and much quality to our squad," promised Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger when Sanchez arrived at the Emirates... and he wasn't lying. The Chile international went on to enjoy three-and-a-half stunning years with the Gunners.
He was Arsenal's Player of the Year twice, winning two FA Cups. They also finished second in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League in each of his first two seasons at the club. They haven't broke into the top four since his departure.
Sanchez's record was just shy of a goal every other game - a considerable achievement for a wide player in England - and was sublime during his final full season at the Emirates, scoring 30 goals in all competitions. He was at the peak of his powers.
"At this time he is the best player in English football," admitted Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini in January 2015. That's some statement considering Pellegrini's squad included Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Yaya Toure that season.
Breaking Messi's heart
The Gunners weren't the only team to benefit from Sanchez's golden spell in England. Chile aren't regarded as a heavyweight in South American football when compared to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. In fact, they didn't win anything before Sanchez's debut in 2006.
Yet they never had a player like him before. Sanchez was the little man from Tocopilla who put Chile on the footballing map. He did so by inspiring them to victory in the 2015 Copa America, scoring the deciding penalty in the shootout to deny Lionel Messi's Argentina.
"This is a dream come true, this team deserves something like this," said Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal. "We left our life on the field. Chilean people needed this joy and we managed to give it to them. We'll fight a lot in the next World Cup."
But before the next World Cup, Chile needed to defend their crown the following summer. The 2016 Copa America was a special edition to celebrate the centenary of CONMEBOL - the governing body of South America football - held in the US.
Remarkably, Chile again defeated Argentina on penalties in the final, with Messi missing his spot kick. Sanchez wasn't required to take a penalty but was awarded the Golden Ball - also known as the Player of the Tournament award - for his efforts.
More importantly, though, Sanchez's legacy as Chile's greatest footballer was confirmed. No one could take his achievements at international level away from him, no matter what happened next in his club career...
Don't touch the piano, Alexis!
By January 2018, Sanchez's future was looking uncertain. He had just 18 months left on his existing deal and Arsenal were reluctant to make him the best-paid player in the Premier League. Man Utd sensed an opportunity and proposed a swap deal involving midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Gunners accepted, much to the anger of their fanbase.
After all, they had just given one of their biggest rivals their talisman. Arsenal supporters were left heartbroken as Sanchez was revealed as a United player in bizarre fashion, playing their famous 'Glory Glory' chant on the piano. They also believed he was greedy for agreeing a reported £560,000-a-week salary at Old Trafford.
Sadly for the Red Devils, playing the piano was the best thing Sanchez did at Old Trafford. He scored just five goals over the next 18 months before Inter offered him an exit route. It was a nightmare transfer for all involved, with Mkhitaryan also struggling at the Emirates.
Sanchez later admitted he wanted to leave United after just one training session. "I ended up signing without much information about what was happening in the move," he revealed after his exit. "The first days that I was with my colleagues, sometimes there are things that you do not realise until you arrive.
"The first training I had I realised many things. I came home and I told my representative: 'Can't the contract be terminated to return to Arsenal?' They start laughing and I told them that something did not sit right with me. It had already been signed."
Sanchez has enjoyed a more fruitful time in Italy - winning Serie A and the Coppa Italia - but has never hit the heights he did at Arsenal. Now 33, his career is dwindling down. Wherever he ends up next, he'll be hoping to find the right tune before the gig's up.
