Manchester United chiefs ‘planned their holidays’ instead of challenging Bayern Munich for Renato Sanches before Euro 2016
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MANCHESTER UNITED lost out to Bayern Munich in the race for Renato Sanches because club chiefs were ‘planning their holidays’ instead of getting down to business.
That’s according to Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who insists the midfielder will easily justify his potential £67million price-tag under new boss Carlo Ancelotti.
Eyebrows were raised when German champs Bayern announced an initial £29.5m deal for Sanches at the end of the season, with the teen whizkid expected to leave Benfica for United at the time.
Sanches only made his senior breakthrough last year, but those 35 appearances in all competitions were enough to convince the Bayern board of his undoubted quality.
All eyes were on the 18-year-old when he turned out for Portugal at Euro 2016 earlier in the summer, and Sanches did not disappoint.
Becoming the youngest-ever player to appear in a European Championship final, Sanches played a key role as the Portuguese shocked hosts France with a narrow win in Paris.
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Sanches was also named Young Player of the Tournament, and United will surely be kicking themselves as Jose Mourinho instead prepares to break the world transfer record to bring back Paul Pogba from Juventus.
Even former Liverpool and Real Madrid ace Xabi Alonso has revealed he’s learning new tips and tricks from Sanches at the age of 34, and Bayern chief Rummenigge admits the club are tickled pink after taking full advantage of United’s slow movement in the transfer window.
The CEO said: “This is a tremendous amount of money, something we do not need to discuss, but I sat down with Carlo Ancelotti in March and we agreed: this player is worth the risk.
“At the European Championship it has already been seen what tremendous power he brings, and what a personality he is on the pitch at 18. That’s impressive.
“When Renato Sanches became known at the European Championships, he had already signed with us.
“We won [the race] for his signature because the others had just planned their holidays.”