Alexis Sanchez has been refused entry to America for Manchester United's pre-season tour due to visa issues.

Sanchez was a surprise absentee when United flew to Los Angeles on Sunday to begin the five-match trip. He was pictured near his home in Cheshire while Jose Mourinho and the rest of the squad gathered at Manchester Airport for the trip.

The club confirmed on Monday that Sanchez did not travel due to 'personal administrative issues'. Sanchez still hopes to be granted a visa waiver that will allow him to join the tour at some point, but his participation is now in some doubt.

Alexis Sanchez has been refused entry to America for Manchester United's pre-season tour

The Chilean was not with his Manchester United team-mates as they flew to the US on Sunday

It's understood that Sanchez has encountered problems obtaining a visa to enter the US after accepting a prison sentence for tax fraud in Spain in February.

He was charged with illegally defrauding the Spanish treasury of £885,000 while a Barcelona player in the 2012-13 season.

It related to allegations that he used a Malta-based company to receive image rights payments from Barca. United boss Jose Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are among the other leading football figures to be investigated by the Spanish authorities.

Sanchez agreed to repay the money in full and accepted a 16-month prison sentence which means he did not have to go to jail because the punishment was less than two years.

Sanchez was spotted with friends in Cheshire as they left Cibo Restaurant in Wilmslow

Chris Smalling (left), Luke Shaw (right) and the rest of the squad flew to Los Angeles on Sunday

The former Arsenal player, who joined United in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan in January and earns a total of £500,000-a-week, will continue to work with his lawyer and United officials to resolve the issue.

If Sanchez is unable to travel, however, he would be sorely missed from a United squad already without a number of World Cup stars who are resting after the tournament in Russia.

It is not the first time that United have been hit by visa problems in America. Three years ago, Marcos Rojo missed the tour and upset manager Louis van Gaal after failing to renew his work visa.

United kick off their tour against Club America in Arizona in the early hours of Friday and also have games in Santa Clara, LA, Detroit and Miami.

Sanchez did not look too concerned by the situation as he shared photos of his new haricut