The transfer of Renato Sanches from Lille to Paris Saint-Germain is now a done deal. The two clubs have agreed to a €15m fee for the Portuguese international.
A Medical test has already been scheduled for the former Lille and Portuguese superb midfielder in Paris upon his arrival at PSG.
Renato Júnior Luz Sanches; height about 1.76m (5ft 9in), is a Portuguese professional footballer, born on the 18th of August 1997. However, there are some controversies surrounding his age as some claim he looks older than the 24 years he claims.
In March 2016, Sporting’s then-president Bruno de Carvalho accused Sanches of lying about his age. However, The bull, as he’s nicknamed requested Carvalho’s public apology or faced a lawsuit for defaming him. Likewise, during Euro 2016, French former manager Guy Roux made a similar accusation.
The controversy was, however, clarified on the 8th of July 2016, as the hospital where Sanches was born published the document which proved he was born on 18 August 1997 at 15:25 local time.
Renato Sanches’ Football Career
Sanches began his career at Benfica, making his professional debut for the reserves in October 2014 and for the first team in October 2015. In his first and only season with them, he helped Benfica win the Primeira Liga and Taça da Liga double, being awarded Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player and Golden Boy in the process.
Sanches’ performances then attracted German side Bayern Munich, who signed him in July 2016 for an initial €35 million, the highest fee at the time for a Portuguese player playing in the Primeira Liga. His performances fell during his first season with the club, leading him to be loaned to Premier League side Swansea City in August 2017.
After remaining as a substitute, following his return to Bayern in 2018, he was signed by French Ligue 1 side Lille, as a midfielder with kit no.18, on August 23, 2019, for a reported fee of €25 million, becoming Lille’s most expensive signing ever. In his second season at the club, he helped the team win the 2020–21 Ligue 1, which ended the club’s 10-year league title drought.
Sanches won 40 caps and scored 8 goals for Portugal at youth level. He made his full international debut in March 2016 and was chosen for UEFA Euro 2016 at age 18, making him the youngest Portuguese to play in an international tournament as well as the youngest player to win a UEFA Euro final. He scored one goal during the competition and won the 2016 European Golden Boy award ahead of the likes of Manchester United star Marcus Rashford and French forward Kingsley Coman.
Style of play
Sanches has been noted for his versatility in midfield, being comfortable in defensive, attacking, central and wide roles. His wild football, which emphasizes his tremendous physical strength; the reason he’s call the bull, and cunning to speed up the game, crossing lines like lightning, feeds his hunger for versatility. His attributes also include passing ability, dribbling and being composed in ball possession.
His tendency to perform well in PSG amidst injury records
Sanchez is a wonderful midfielder but his injury problems have prevented him from unleashing his best. He’s had about fifteen injury records from 2017-2022.
At the start of 2021/22 season, Sanches was sidelined with an hamstring injury in August, which required surgery, missing seven weeks of the season. Barcelona could have acquired him before PSG as the club negotiated with Lille for the transfer of Sanches, however, due to his injury, the transfer collapsed at the final stages.
Nevertheless, Renato Sanches is no doubt an icon in the history of football and I believe he will perform better as he moves to PSG to play with the likes of Messi, Mbappe, Neymar and other football lengends in the club.
