Chile confirm Alexis Sanchez blow for Copa America

With the Copa America tournament just around the corner, Chile have announced an unwelcome setback for Alexis Sanchez.

Alexis Sanchez will miss the group stages of the Copa America after suffering a muscular injury in training.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United forward made Martin Lasarte’s final squad for the South American competition upon helping Inter Milan claim a first Serie A title in over a decade.

Sanchez has been an integral part of the Chile squad for the last 15 years, having managed a record 46 goals and 138 caps. He was key in the national team’s back-to-back Copa America triumphs in 2015 and 2016.

Alexis Sanchez is set to miss the entire group stage of the #CopaAmerica with a muscle injury ❌ pic.twitter.com/SWK1RnCV1j

— Goal (@goal) June 12, 2021

But Chile will have to make do without the experienced star for the opening round of games in Brazil at least.

“The Medical Corps of the Chilean National Team reports that the player Alexis Sanchez, after training yesterday, presented a plantar-thin muscle injury,” read a statement.

“The estimated recovery time goes beyond the group stage of the Copa América 2021, for which the athlete will remain in his recovery process in Chile, with the medical team of the national team.”

Sanchez is set to miss Chile’s Group B games against Argentina on Monday, Bolivia four days later, Uruguay on June 21, and Paraguay on June 25.