Mourinho hopes Sanchez can fix 'really sad' visa issue, join U.S. tour in time

Alexis Sanchez's scramble for an approved visa to enter the United States has thrown a wrench into Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho's pre-season plans.

Reports suggest Sanchez's suspended 16-month jail sentence for tax fraud in Spain is the reason behind him being prohibited entry into the country, as a U.S. visa cannot be granted to individuals who have been convicted of fraud.

Sanchez's lawyers are reportedly applying for a visa waiver program that would allow the Chilean forward to enter the U.S. without the necessary travel permit, according to BBC Sport's Simon Stone.

But with the start of the new Premier League campaign just over three weeks away, it's not clear if Sanchez's application will be processed in time - a significant inconvenience the Portuguese boss admits could hamper his already limited attacking selection for the Aug. 10 season opener against Leicester City.

"It is really bad, really sad, not good for him, for me, the team," Mourinho said, according to The Guardian's Jamie Jackson. "There is no one to blame; the club is making the effort. I have to respect the U.S. authorities in their process of visas.

"But hopefully he joins us later because it could be important to work with (Anthony) Martial, Alexis and (Juan) Mata - the players we have in attack for start of the season. There is no (Romelu) Lukaku, (Jesse) Lingard or (Marcus) Rashford."

Mourinho will be without the latter trio due to their deep World Cup runs with Belgium and England, which will also give Marouane Fellaini, Ashley Young, and Phil Jones an extended summer vacation.

French midfielder Paul Pogba could be the last of Mourinho's senior players to return after he helped guide Les Bleus to a victory over Croatia in the World Cup final.