In MLS, a Designated Player place is not just a squad detail. It is a signal.
Reports have indicated the club has already hinted at the move publicly, which adds to the sense that this is being framed as a marquee arrival rather than a low-risk veteran flyer.
Even at 37, Sanchez carries a level of experience few MLS clubs can match. He has played at the top end of the European game and has spent years operating in high-pressure environments. That matters in a league where adaptation is often as important as talent.
The report says his last season at Sevilla produced four goals and two assists in 28 appearances. Those are not explosive numbers, but they do suggest he was still contributing in a major European league. Montreal would likely be banking less on volume and more on class:
There is also a clear question. Can Montreal get enough intensity and durability from an older star to justify such a prominent squad investment? MLS can be demanding physically, and reputation alone does not win matches.
That is why the next step matters. Until the move is confirmed, it remains a report. But if CF Montreal do complete it, the next storyline will be simple: how quickly Alexis Sanchez can turn name recognition into goals, chances and a genuine lift in the club’s season.