Writer:Moses Iluebbey
Renato Sanches seemed destined for the very top after starring for Portugal at Euro 2016, but 12 months on he has dropped (not surprisingly) into their U21s after a very difficult first season at Bayern Munich. What exactly has gone wrong for the 19-year-old wonderkid.
This time last year, Renato was busy putting his stamp on Euro 2016. A man-of-the-match display against Croatia in the last-16 was followed by a crucial goal against Poland in the quarter-finals, and then thrilling teenager became the youngest finalist in the competition’s history when he started in Portugal’s extra-time victory over the hosts at the Stade de France.
With a winners’ medal around his neck and the young player of the tournament award in his hands, Sanches departed France with a long list of admirers. “Renato is going to be a fantastic player,” said Portugal manager Fernando Santos after his heroics at the Euros
By that point, Bayern Munich had already beaten Manchester United and a host of other top clubs to his signature for an initial fee of £27.5m. The all-action midfielder had only played 30 senior games for boyhood club Benfica, but his explosive performances in Portugal had sent ripples across Europe.
He only actually made his debut in October, a couple of months into that season,so, nobody really knew much about him, but from the moment he broke into the team he was just absolutely sensational
Benfica had started the campaign slowly, losing league games to Arouca, Sporting Lisbon and Porto and suffering a Champions League defeat to Galatasaray in those early months of 2015/16, but they rapidly improved with the introduction of the dreadlocked tyro from their academy
Renato brought so much raw energy and pace. He revolutionised a midfield that was looking laboured. He would pick the ball up deep in his own half and carry the team forward practically on his own. He was (almost) unstoppable.”
By January, big clubs were circling. People felt there was too much hype around him (and i definitely thought so too) but I think I would agree that if it wasn’t for Renato Sanches, Benfica probably wouldn’t have won the championship that season.
Renato Sanches made his Benfica debut in October 2015
Renato Sanches made his Benfica debut in October 2015
Bayern Munich witnessed Sanches’ ability first-hand when they faced Benfica in the next round of the Champions League, and their subsequent deal to sign him looked like even more of a coup after those dazzling displays at the Euros. Sanches went straight into Bayern’s team, starting four of their first six Bundesliga games, but the opportunities dried up as he struggled to adapt.
Carlo Ancelotti insisted the youngster would get his chance, but by the end of the season he had only started nine games in all competitions – and only two since December. When he was omitted from Portugal’s Confederations Cup squad and selected for the U21s instead, it didn’t come as much of a surprise.
“I think the main reason he struggled is that he is still so young,” says Torben Hoffman, a former Bayer Leverkusen and 1860 Munich defender who now covers Bayern for Sky in Germany. “He has had problems with the language and found it hard to integrate with the team. There is also a lot of competition for places at Bayern.”
From being an undisputed starter at Benfica, Sanches found himself vying with Xabi Alonso, Arturo Vidal and Thiago Alcantara in the unfamiliar surroundings of the Allianz Arena.The problem is that you basically have to be the finished article at a club like bayern. He was learning so much playing at benfica every week, it was the perfect environment for him to develop, but he was a still a rough diamond with flaws in his game. Portugal is well known for producing precocious young talents who get sold before they are the finished article. That’s what happened with him.”
And so, in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz about 2 weeks ago, almost a year to the day since his first appearance of Euro 2016, Sanches found himself on the bench for Portugal’s European U21 Championship opener against Serbia. He showed his rustiness with some misplaced passes after his second-half introduction, but the brilliant assist for their late second goal was a reminder of his quality.
That raw talent, the natural ability that once caused so much excitement, has never been in doubt. But while Sanches remains a thrilling player with plenty of time to get his career back on track, those who have followed him closely in Germany find it difficult to see past the roadblocks at Bayern.
Bayern have just gone out and spent another 40m euros on Tolisso. People were hoping he might get more of a chance now thqt Alonso is retiring, but it’s going to be difficult again. Perhaps if he gets more minutes with the U21s, he can win back his confidence and persuade a club like United to come back in for him.”
Right now, however, Sanches looks like a cautionary tale for young players emerging on the big stage. Looking back, it was simply too much, too soon. Rediscovering the form that catapulted him into the spotlight 12 months ago will not be straightforward.
What do you feel is the way forward for this dreadlocked bundle of raw talent
