Udinese president Giampaolo Pozzo admits Premier League clubs could've signed Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez for a bargain basement £2 million.

Pozzo, who bought Sanchez from Corbreloa for that price back in 2006, said bigger clubs were aware of the attacking prodigy but he chose to move to Italy because they were the first to show faith in his ability.

"The big clubs, not just English, had sensed the deal but we were good at getting the player first when he was not yet known," Pozzo told The Sun. "He wanted to sign for us because firstly, he wanted to come to Europe and then because we were the first to believe in him.

"Our scouts in South America saw his unquestionable technical qualities. But, from when we started following him, he also had a personality that was out of the ordinary for a boy of that age."