Rio Ferdinand explains why he asked Alexis Sanchez to choose Man City over Manchester United

To the horror of Manchester United fans, former Red Devil and captain Rio Ferdinand urged Alexis Sanchez to sign for cross-town rivals Manchester City. He said that as a footballer if he had the choice between United and City right now, he would pick the latter.

He said: “If he has an option now to go from Arsenal to Manchester City or Manchester United, as a footballer who wanted to win trophies and be judged on trophies, Manchester City looks like the place to go. They are top of the league and going to win the league this season. They are in the Champions League, they look like they will be in the final of the League Cup and the FA Cup as well potentially. So he's got more opportunities to win trophies there.”

He added later: “He knows Pep. He's been with Pep and has more of an idea. If Pep wants him again now, I'm sure he's thinking: 'I'm going to go there second time round and do it properly this time. As a professional, you'd have to say that the balance of power is starting to come back to an even keel almost and then going City's way. You look at Manchester City and they're so far ahead of everybody else, not just in points but in the way and style they play. They're taking teams out before they even get on to the pitch."

He later explained that as an ex-player and a fan he would love to have Sanchez at Old Trafford, but he wasn't asked that question yesterday. 

As an ex player... fan... someone who loves the club.. I would love to see #Sanchez in a @ManUtd shirt playing under Jose!!! But I wasn’t asked that question yesterday....

Just seen he’s not in the #AFC squad today... en route to Euston to direct Alexis to Old Trafford!!! https://t.co/QTGaboiw3U

— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) January 14, 2018

"Manchester City looks like the place to go for him."

"That looked like it hurt." 

"When we get to the break, I'm going to speak to the lady and ask for some tissues." @rioferdy5 on Alexis Sanchez's future... ️pic.twitter.com/tWlwZSKwPN

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 13, 2018

Arsene Wenger admitted today that Alexis Sanchez's future is up in the air as Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola stayed tight-lipped over potential moves for the forward during the January transfer window.

Guardiola's bid to buy Sanchez collapsed at the end of the summer transfer window and City were favourites to land him this time around but the club are apparently unwilling to meet Arsenal's reported 35 million ($48 million, 39 million euros) asking price.

Mourinho's United are understood to have thrown their hat into the ring, bidding around 25 million to trump City's 20 million offer as they seek to bolster their forward options and deny their bitter rivals.

When asked if United were interested in signing the 29- year-old Chilean international, who is out of contract at the end of the season, Wenger said "nothing is really concrete at the moment".

Questioned as to whether there was any truth in the rumour, the Arsenal manager was coy.

"You conclude that," he said. "You could say that at the moment... it's not that I don't want to inform you, I don't want to give you wrong information and at the moment I must say nothing is decided one way or the other." Wenger admitted a bidding war could help Arsenal but said that was not the current situation.

In later press conferences on Friday, neither Guardiola nor Mourinho gave much away over a potential move for the Arsenal man.

Guardiola said his focus was on maintaining City's fine form when they travel to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

"I understand completely why you ask this question (about Sanchez), it's your job," said Guardiola. "But you know my answer. I am focused on Liverpool."

Mourinho, who described Sanchez as a "phenomenal player", said: "I don't know if it's ethical or correct to be speaking about players of other clubs."

"Sanchez is an Arsenal player," he added. "Probably this weekend he is going to defend Arsenal colours so I don't think it's correct to say things about Alexis Sanchez." Arsenal boss Wenger said Sanchez would only be allowed to leave if they could get a new signing over the line -- the club have been linked with young Bordeaux forward Malcom.

"Of course I want a quick resolution," he told reporters at Arsenal's north London training base.

"Is he (Sanchez) replaceable in the way that we find exactly the same player? Certainly not, but there's always a way to find a different balance.

"Alexis is an exceptional football player, he's a world- class player and if that happens (and he leaves) we have to find a different balance in the team."

Theo Walcott is another Arsenal player poised to leave this month, with Everton manager Sam Allardyce revealing on Friday that they are hopeful of sealing a permanent deal.

Wenger said he does not want the 28-year-old to leave, but conceded he cannot guarantee the forward playing time and an unlikely route into Gareth Southgate's England squad for the World Cup. 

With inputs from agencies