Alexis Sánchez arrives in Montreal full of excitement as CF Montreal draws with DC United

There were two stories to tell at Stade Saputo that afternoon. One was the usual kind: an MLS match with points on the line. The other, the one that actually had everyone in Quebec glued to their phones, was Alexis Sánchez setting foot in his new home for the first time.

CF Montreal hosted DC United in Matchday 19 of the season, and even though the Chilean wasn't yet eligible to take the field, the club didn't want to wait another day to give him a proper welcome. On social media, they posted a video of the forward trying on his new jersey, smiling, pretending to make a run for the field as if it were already time to play. "Welcome to your new home!" the club's official account wrote, alongside the first photos of Alexis already wearing Montreal's colors.

Anyone who has followed Sánchez's career knows what he represents: he's Chile's all-time leading scorer for the national team, with stints at Udinese, Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United and Inter Milan, among others. For the fanbase, having a player with that resume land in Montreal is a genuine source of excitement in the middle of a season that has been anything but easy.

Because the match itself, signing celebrations aside, left plenty to be desired. Montreal drew 1-1 with DC United and once again failed to gain any ground in the standings. The result means little when the reality is what it is: the Quebec side sits 13th in the Eastern Conference, seven points off the playoff line, with time running out fast.

The hope Alexis brings

Will the Chilean be enough to turn things around for a team that badly needs results? That's the question on every fan's mind. The truth is his arrival won't fix the team's on-field problems by itself, but it does bring something this roster was missing: pedigree and a big name in the locker room, plus a media spotlight that could help lift spirits for the rest of the season.

For now, Alexis could only watch the match from the sidelines, getting a first look at the stadium that will soon be his home ground. The expectation among Montreal fans is clear: see him make his debut as soon as possible, and see the enthusiasm he showed while trying on the jersey translate into something on the field, for a team that urgently needs points if it wants to keep dreaming of cracking the top eight in its conference.