Manchester United signing Alexis Sanchez admits he came close to joining Sir Alex Ferguson's team in the past.

It's been recalled this week that Ferguson seriously considered Alexis in 2010.

And after completing his move from Arsenal yesterday, Alexis stated: "I've always been motivated by this club.

"By their red colours, which have always stood out for me and I'm genuinely saying this from the heart when I tell you that this is like a dream come true for me, playing for Manchester United. It makes me feel really happy. I'm so pleased to be here at the Theatre of Dreams, as everyone calls it.

"Since I was a young boy I've always said my dream was to play for Manchester United. I'm not saying that because I'm here now and today it's come true. I always said as a kid that I'd like to play for United, and I once spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson about it.

"We chatted for around twenty minutes. And I told him that it was my dream to come here to Manchester United. It really is a massive club, very powerful, and so now, when I got the opportunity to come here I looked at the badge and my hairs just stood on end because it's a powerful club and the biggest in England.

"I believe at this club it's possible to achieve anything. The badge says it all, it's a huge club on a worldwide scale and I want to come here and win everything, the Premier League, the Champions League, and whatever comes the club's way in the future."