It seemed a significant moment when Manchester United unveiled Alexis Sanchez as the Premier League's best-paid player at the beginning of last year.
His arrival at Old Trafford was perceived as a great coup for United's pulling power and financial power and a victory for Jose Mourinho, albeit one that cost the club £450,000 a week.
In contrast, Manchester City couldn't compete and Pep Guardiola just had to accept it.
Alexis Sanchez winces in pain after picking up a knee injury in the game against Southampton
Sanchez has struggled for form and fitness since joining United from Arsenal in January, 2018
Roll forward 15 months, and the argument has turned on its head. City are chasing an unprecedented Quadruple without Sanchez while United are 50-50 to qualify for the Champions League and their Chilean asset isn't in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first XI.
Five goals in 41 appearances wasn't meant to happen.
Whilst Solskjaer has revived the fortunes of Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku and Chris Smalling, there is a glimmer of impatience with Sanchez.
'I can't do anything about Alexis Sanchez,' said the interim manager after another flat display as a sub in the Champions League first leg defeat against PSG. 'When he plays, he needs to find himself.'
United Treble winner Phil Neville put it succinctly: 'We're not getting the Alexis we fell in love with at Arsenal.'
He has spent much of this season on the bench after failing to make an impact at Old Trafford
Sanchez looks dejected after a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace back in November last year
When United pulled off their miracle win in Paris in the second leg, Sanchez was missing through injury. More worryingly, the forward seems to have lost that famed confidence that served him so well at Udinese, Barcelona, Arsenal and the Chilean national team.
'If I'm not in contact with the ball, I lose that spark,' he admitted recently. 'I would like to have brought more joy to United. Yes, it
