Sanchez out to catch Messi

Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez says he hopes to emulate the success of his team-mate Lionel Messi, who he describes as the best player in the world.

The Chile forward joined Barca from Udinese in the off-season in a 26 million-euro deal, and insists he is keeping his feet on the ground despite his meteoric rise.

“At Barcelona I am going step-by-step,” Sanchez told Sky Sports.

“I know that I haven’t done anything yet but I am happy for the career that I have had until this moment, most of all the performance I had at Udinese, when I had been chosen as one of the best players in Italy.”

“On the other hand I find it important to keep on growing, and that is happening at Barcelona, where I learn very much from Lionel Messi, the best player in the world.”

“This team wants to keep on winning things; I want to be at Barcelona for a long time. I want to follow the way Messi has gone.”

“That means to win everything.”

Sanchez has performed well since his arrival at Camp Nou, with five goals to his name so far, including a strike against Real Madrid in December’s 3-1 Clasico win at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 23-year-old has already won the Spanish Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup in Barcelona colours.