I used to play football in local jail as a kid - Alexis Sanchez:

Arsenal and Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez has revealed that he used to play football as a kid in his local jail in Chile. 


The 28-year-old former Barcelona star grew up in the Chilean city of Tocopilla, and is well known for his passion for the game.

Speaking to Arsenal Player, Sanchez spoke of how his hunger for football led him to playing wherever and whenever he could as a kid-- even if it meant going in goal.

"I wanted to be a professional footballer from when I was small," he said. "My mental approach was always to win and to go as far as possible playing football.

"I was always playing in tournaments and initially I played in goal. I was happy as long as I was playing football. I played with older people all the time -- many of whom I really liked.

"In the street, but we also used to go to the local jail to play. We played with the people there on a dirt pitch, and I played in goal."

The Arsenal striker has caught a frustrated figure several times this season due to his sides failure to compete in major tournament amid growing reports that he wants to leave the Emirate stadium in the summer after contracts negotiations collapsed.