Manchester United star Alexis Sanchez is mentioned all over the Chilean media today, as local reports are excited to say that he’ll soon be fit and should play the Copa America.
But there’s a much better story we’ve found when reading newspaper La Cuarta this morning. That’s about his moustache.
At the start of the week, the English media photographed Alexis Sanchez walking his dogs in Wales, and this new look caught some attention.
His discreet beard and moustache don’t really look like a big deal, but La Cuarta brings an entire page to write about it today, calling it a ‘teenager’ look.
They’ve also interviewed psychologist Andrea Lopez, from Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, to talk about what it means.
Really, they have.
“The physical transformation of course also relates to your present,” Andrea Lopez told La Cuarta. “In the stages of crisis you begin to question your identity, they are search instances.
“Sometimes you can see it reflected in your image, as in this case. It has to do with the processes of change, it’s like when you talk about cutting your hair at the end of a love relationship, for example. In the end you give it a symbolic character, it’s about empowering yourself and making decisions for the future.”
Lopez has also claimed that Sanchez’s breakup with actress Mayte Rodriguez could have something to do with it.
“Of course, Alexis is exposed to personal issues affecting him, but we tend to fall into the narrative construction where the woman is blamed for successes or failures. Determining the degree of interference is more complex.
“On any side it can happen, your internal state is reflected in the work. In addition, the footballers are exposed to many changes in territorial terms. Creating a sense of belonging with the place, new cultures and people, requires support, and if you do not have a close network, as a couple or family, it is more complicated.”
Asked if it’s better for the player to move out of Manchester United, she said: “There has to be a rest period and reconnect with the motivations. If you do not find those anchors in your club, you should look for another option.”
