Arsenal’s head scout for South America, Jonathan Vidallé, says he is still searching for another Alexis Sánchez, but admits Chile has a long way to go to produce one. 

Speaking to ADN Deportes, the Argentine talent spotter reflected on the current state of Chilean football and the decline in player exports to Europe.

“Chile is one of the countries I cover, and I’d love to bring another Alexis Sánchez to Arsenal, but they have to improve a lot,” Vidallé said. “I’m not happy about it because I know the coaches there are serious professionals. But the truth is, something’s not working. The quality of material coming through is not what it used to be.”

Vidallé’s connection to Chilean football goes beyond his scouting work. Nearly a decade ago, he discovered Marcelo Allende, then a 17-year-old prospect. He took him to London for a trial with Arsenal, where he was mentored by Sánchez himself.

“Marcelo grew a lot. He’s a very intelligent player. When I found him, he reminded me of Santi Cazorla, especially because of his size and technical ability,” he recalled.

The Argentine scout noted, however, that physicality has become a decisive factor in elite football. “In...