Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez admits he played football in a jail as a child

Alexis Sanchez has made the surprise revelation that he used to visit a local jail to play football when he was a child.

The Arsenal forward followed this up by admitting he even started his career as a goalkeeper, before he later turned into a prolific goalscorer.

The Chile international was first introduced to football in his home town of Tocopill, where he would play on dirt pitches with other children.

It was here Sanchez fell in love with the game and aspired to play on the biggest stages in world football, which he of course succeeded in doing.

"I wanted to be a professional footballer from when I was small," Sanchez told Arsenal Player.

"My mental approach was always to win and to go as far as possible playing football.

"I was always playing in tournaments and initially I played in goal.

"I was happy as long as I was playing football. I played with older people all the time - many of whom I really liked.

"[I played] in the street, but we also used to go to the local jail to play. We played with the people there on a dirt pitch, and I played in goal."

Sanchez's future at Arsenal is currently in the balance, with the Chilean expected to move away from the Emirates in the summer.

The 28-year-old had a falling out with boss Arsene Wenger ahead of the Gunners' game with Liverpool and was subsequently dropped to the bench.

His contract at the club, which expires in the summer of 2018, is yet to be renewed.