Sanchez appears to be on the brink of a sensational move to Manchester United having been set to join Manchester City.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed Sanchez’s future will be sorted in the next 48 hours and has replacements lined up in Malcom and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
By moving to United, Sanchez would end the prospect of playing under Pep Guardiola again.
Guardiola signed Sanchez in 2011 from Udinese when he was Barcelona manager and wanted to rekindle the relationship at the Etihad.
Football intermediary Antonelli played a role as a consultant in the deal which took Sanchez to Spain and he has now given his take on this month’s move.
“I don’t have any specific knowledge – it’s just my interpretation – but I think this is Jose Mourinho, quite intelligently, trying to throw a spanner in the works and testing City and Alexis’ resolve,” Antonelli told ESPN.
“My sense is that his future is at City and it has been from the moment he chose not to extend his contract with Arsenal.”
In 2011, Antonelli attempted to convince Sanchez that his career was at City and not Barcelona.
And he says a combination of Guardiola and Lionel Messi convinced him to move to the Nou Camp.
He said: “Alexis got a phone call from Guardiola.
“And then he got one from Messi too. They persuaded him to come on board; they sold him on Barcelona. They were brilliant in convincing him. Ultimately, it’s the player’s choice.”