As a youth, Sánchez played in the youth academy of América de Cali, but after his parents moved he transferred to Atlético Nacional, where he was educated under the wings of Juan Carlos Osorio.
Som ung spelade Sánchez i América de Cali ungdomsakademi, men efter att hans föräldrar flyttat gick han till Atlético Nacional, där han utbildades under Juan Carlos Osorios vingar.