Arturo Vidal felt Alexis Sanchez needed his goal for Chile against Japan after a “difficult” season with Manchester United.

Sanchez scored his first goal since January as the two-time defending Copa America champions beat Japan 4-0 in Sao Paulo on Monday.

The Manchester United attacker headed in a cross from Charles Aranguiz in the 82nd minute before setting up Eduardo Vargas a minute later.

Vargas provided a brace for the two-time defending Copa America champions, making him Chile’s all-time leading scorer in the competition and the active player with the most career Copa America goals.

Vidal said the goal was just what Sanchez, who netted twice in 27 games for United in 2018-19, needed as he looks to regain confidence following a trying club campaign with the Red Devils.

“Alexis needed the goal. He had a difficult year and this gives him confidence,” the Barcelona midfielder said of his long-time team-mate.

Sanchez has helped lead Chile to two consecutive Copa America titles via two consecutive victories over Lionel Messi and Argentina in the tournament finales.

Chile had never won the tournament prior to those two title wins, having finished as a runner-up four times prior to their initial 2015 triumph.

The 30-year-old Sanchez, Chile’s all-time leading scorer, has earned 125 total caps for his national team, scoring 42 goals during his senior international career.

However, the Chilean star has struggled since making the move from Arsenal to Manchester United in January 2018, having scored only five goals in 45 appearances for the Red Devils.

Those struggled have seen him linked with a move away from Old Trafford, although a transfer could be difficult given the former Arsenal star’s massive wages at Manchester United.

The pair of late goals scored by Sanchez and Vargas wrapped up Chile’s win after Erick Pulgar’s first-half header and Vargas’ deflected strike in the 54th minute.

Vidal, whose team face Ecuador in Group C on Friday, urged Chile to continue improving.

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“We must focus from now on that game,” he said.

“We know that if we keep improving we can be a very dangerous team.”

With three points in hand from their first match, Vidal and Chile will face Ecuador and then Uruguay in their final two group stage matches.

Andrew Nabbout has gone from fan to opponent of Spanish star Fernando Torres and the Aussie attacker made the most of his change in fortunes.

After their Japanese side’s Sagan Tosu and Urawa Red Diamonds faced off on Saturday, the Socceroo was quick to secure the shirt of the former Atletico Madrid man.

Barcelona spokesman Josep Vives wanted to avoid falling into a “trap” by discussing a possible return to the club for Neymar amid reports he could be in line for a return to the club.

Neymar, 27, has been linked with a return to La Liga for much of the last two years since making a world-record €222 million switch to Paris Saint-Germain.

Howevery eyebrows were raised when PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi claimed on Monday nobody made Neymar join the club and seemed to indicate the Brazil star would not be kept if he was not fully committed to the Ligue 1 champions.

While a move to Real Madrid and Manchester United have been suggested, reports have since surfaced in Brazil suggesting Neymar is nearing a return to Barca, with a possible cash plus player swap with PSG mooted.

But Vives, spokesman for the board of directors, tried to bat away questions about the superstar on Monday.

“It’s something we’re not going to get into. Now, he is a PSG player and we do not have to talk,” he said, via Marca.

“We will not say anything because we will fall into a trap.”

Neymar’s two seasons at PSG have been hampered by injuries, although he has won two Ligue 1 titles, a Coupe de France and a Coupe de la Ligue.

A broken foot has sidelined him for extended periods over the two campaigns, and forced him to miss parts of both of PSG’s last two round of 16 ties, with Real Madrid and Manchester United, which saw the French giants eliminated.

Vives refused to say whether the Brazil international, who spent four seasons at Barca, would be welcomed back, though he did not dismiss a return either.

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“We don’t leave the door open or closed,” he said. “The facts are known. We explained them.

“He’s a PSG player and from there we don’t talk about Neymar or anyone. It’s PSG. We will not do it here.”

Neymar is currently recovering from a serious ankle injury picked up a pre-Copa America friendly for Brazil against Qatar, which has caused him to miss the tournament.

While Usain Bolt’s foray into football fell short of a professional contract, the sprinter clearly learnt a thing or two during his trial with Australian side Central Coast Mariners.

The 32-year-old got his name on the score sheet during Soccer Aid on Sunday night as he inspired his of the Rest of the World XI to a comeback win over an England XI.

After freestyle footballer Jeremy Lynch had given England a 2-0 lead in the first-half, Bolt capitalised on an error from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher just before the break to give his side some hope of a comeback.

Love Island star Kem Cetinay would then ultimately score a late equaliser for Bolt’s side, who held their nerve in a penalty shootout to claim the win.

Over £6 million was raised for charity as a result of the game as a Jamaican sprinter once again got a taste of being a footballer.

Aside from Bolt, other notable names involved in the match included Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, Brazilian icon Roberto Carlos and actor James McAvoy.

Piers Morgan managed the Rest of the World side, while Harry Redknapp was in the dugout for England.

Soccer Aid has been running since 2006 and has raised over £20 million in aid for UNICEF.

While Bolt is no longer chasing his football dream, he recently weighed in on his beloved Manchester United, claiming the Red Devils should build a side around Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann.

“Pogba is a friend of mine and I am a massive fan of his and I think they need to build a team around him,” Bolt said.

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“When you watch him at Juventus and when he plays for France, he is outstanding because he has good strikers and people to play and run off the ball which he needs as a great passer.

“It doesn’t matter how somebody cuts his hair, as long as he comes on the field, he shows up.

“If you build the team around him and give him strikers who understand how he plays then he is going to do great.”