Daley Blind was also missing, as he nears a move back to former club Ajax
Manchester United have flown out for their pre-season tour of the United States without star forward Alexis Sanchez.
The Chilean star was not with his Red Devils team-mates as they began their trip around the US, which will see United play five games – with Liverpool, Real Madrid and AC Milan among their opponents.
But there is no suggestion that Sanchez’s absence has anything to do with a potential move away from Old Trafford – it is believed he has merely been given extra time off by boss Jose Mourinho.
The 29-year-old is entering his first full season at Manchester United following his arrival from Arsenal in January.
And Mourinho wants his star man, who suffered from a lack of form at the end of last term, fighting fit for the new Premier League campaign.
It is claimed he will meet up with the squad at a later date, having only returned to training last week after his first summer without football for five years.
Meanwhile, Dutch defender Daley Blind was also not present, as he edges closer to a return to Ajax.
The 28-year-old is set to return to Amsterdam for a reported £14.1million fee after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford under Mourinho.
Matteo Darmian has also been linked with leaving United this summer, with a move to Juventus touted, but he was part of the squad that travelled to the US on Sunday.
Fans in the States may be disappointed that a number of their United heroes will not be joining the tour due to the World Cup.
The Premier League giants had 12 players take part in Russia – including David De Gea, Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and newly-crowned world champion Paul Pogba – and they will not be joining the tour.
