Can Alexis Sanchez play for Manchester United in this season's Champions League?

Sanchez and Mkhitaryan will be able to play for their new clubs, but if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moves, he will not be so lucky

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Monday 22 January 2018 14:21 EST
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Alexis Sanchez posts emotional Arsenal tribute as move to Manchester United is confirmed

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Alexis Sanchez will be able to play for Manchester United in the Champions League now that he has completed his move from Arsenal.

Sanchez made one appearance for Arsenal in the Europa League this season, playing the full 90 minutes against Koln at the Emirates in September.

However, this will not bar him from playing for United in their forthcoming Champions League knockout tie with Sevilla.

The rules for the Champions League knockout rounds allow clubs to register a player that has played for another club in another Uefa club competition, so long as the player has not played in the Champions League or for a current Champions League side.

Nor Sanchez or Arsenal have competed in this season’s Champions League, meaning he is free to be registered by United.

Sanchez completed his medical at United’s Carrington training ground on Sunday and was announced as a United player on Monday.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan will move to Arsenal as part of the deal and the Armenian playmaker will also be able to compete in European competition for his new club.

However, Arsenal target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will not be able to play in the Europa League if he completes his move to the Emirates.

Borussia Dortmund, Aubameyang’s current club, were demoted to the Europa League after finishing third behind Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage.

As Arsenal and Dortmund both now compete in the Europa League, Aubameyang would be ineligible to play if he moves.

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