Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez had a message to fans who have their hearts set on achieving their hopes and dreams as he documented his path...
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez had a message to fans who have their hearts set on achieving their hopes and dreams as he documented his path to stardom.
Sanchez posted a picture to his Instagram page of him as a young boy, clearly with his mind on becoming a footballer.
He told his followers 'Do not let anyone steal your dreams... still struggling' after explaining it was a picture from his time in Buenos Aires.
Arsenal's new forward grew up in poverty-stricken rural Chile in a mining town called Tocopilla - which literally means Devil's Corner - and he used to perform on the street for money at the tender age of six.
In an interview with The Sun on Sunday, Sanchez's brother Humberto revealed the Chilean international's journey from his impoverished upbringing and earning a living on the streets at the age of six to global football superstar.
Humberto said: 'Alexis had nothing when growing up. He had to fight for everything he has.
'We were the poorest of the poor so Alexis had to earn money any way he could from a very young age.
'He would wash cars for a few pence or perform somersaults for a handful of coins from onlookers. He was like a little gymnast, hurling himself all over the place.
'The neighbours would give him a few coins for entertaining them. Sometimes he was so hungry he would knock on neighbours' doors and ask for bread. They would always gibe him what they had to spare. On occasions Alexis would box in the street for entertainment.'
Yet now the 25-year-old is on a £130,000-a-week contract with Arsenal
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