Alexis Sanchez defends Manchester United transfer decision on Twitter

Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez has defended his move to Manchester United on Twitter.

United are set to pay a Premier League record £350,000-a-week before bonuses to Sanchez, and will part with Henrikh Mkhitaryan - who they value at £35million - to acquire the Chile international.

Sanchez has been criticised after Manchester City dropped their interest in signing him following United's dramatic late move for the forward, with some suggesting that the 29-year-old has put money over principles in deciding to join the Red Devils over the Premier League leaders.

But Sanchez - who flew to Manchester on a private jet on Sunday ahead of a medical at United's Carrington training complex - took the unusual step of retweeting an article which claimed United's swoop for him is a "bargain".

In his Mail on Sunday column, Oliver Holt wrote: "Take anti-United jaundice out of the equation and there is only one way of viewing that: they got themselves a steal."

It has been suggested the deal represents bad business for United, who could have signed an out-of-contract Sanchez for free in the summer.

But the article explains United's decision to move now, and the reasons behind Sanchez's giant salary.

The player's retweet, which he posted in the last 12 hours, is the first time he has given any hint of feeling or motive behind his situation.