Hollywood beckons
A film starring Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez is being released in his native Chile on Thursday.
Entitled Mi Amigo Alexis, the motion picture tells the story of a 12-year-old boy called Tito who, in fortuitous circumstances, ends up meeting his footballing idol – Alexis Sanchez.
Helmed by an award-winning Chilean director known for his ‘slow-paced naturalistic dramas’, Alejandro Fernandez Almendras, the film was apparently all Sanchez’s idea according to executive producer Rocio Jadue.
A translation by BBC Sport of the film’s synopsis reads: “The unexpected friendship between the child and the idol brings teachings for both: Tito discovers his true path in life and Alexis is reunited with the stories from his childhood that make him remember the reason why he loves football.”
You can watch the trailer in full below.
The director said of Sanchez’s performance: “I think people will be surprised at how Alexis acts – what he does and says. He goes beyond what we see on the pitch.”
Meanwhile, Alexis himself told ADN Radio Chile: “It’s different from playing soccer. There, you are not worried about the cameras. I am a perfectionist and I want things to go well. In the end, I was relaxed and happy and it came out natural.”
Luciano Gonzalez, who plays the fleet-footed football hopeful Tito in the film said the beating thousands of other auditionees to the role, alongside a Chilean sporting hero, was “the most wonderful thing that could have happened to me”.
