Arsene Wenger has blasted Chile over their treatment of star man Alexis Sanchez after he picked up an injury on international duty.
Chile boss Juan Antonio Pizzi has confirmed Sanchez will miss the World Cup qualifier with Colombia but remains hopeful he will play against Uruguay on Tuesday.
However, the Gunners boss says allowing Sanchez to play would be a “suicidal decision” and fears it could rule him out for months.
“I got a text last night [to say] that he has a hamstring injury,” he told beIN Sports. “The team from Chile has travelled without him and they kept him to try and get him fit to play Uruguay for the second game on Tuesday night.
“I believe that with a hamstring injury. We have to get access for our medical staff to the MRI scan to see what grade it is, how bad it is and make absolutely sure they don’t make any suicidal decision that could harm his future for two or three months.
“That is absolutely important. It’s a grey area between the national team and the club team and of course they look at their own results which I can understand but we have to preserve the health of Alexis Sanchez.”
Sanchez, meanwhile, is reportedly willing to risk further injury by playing which does not surprise Wenger who admits he never wants to be left out.
He added: “He always wants to play and that’s where it is a more sensitive case because he’s always ready to play even when injured.”
Wenger’s anger at Chile’s decision is understandable, particularly with Sanchez’s well-known reluctance to be rested, and with games against Manchester United and PSG immediately following the international break.