Jose Mourinho explains why Manchester United missed on Renato Sanches

Renato Sanches, the former Benfica ace now at Bayern Munich

 

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reveals that he would have tried to sign Renato Sanches had Manchester United appointed him earlier. Manchester United have purchased  3 fantastic players this year, with the signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan so far.

Sanches won 40 caps and scored 8 goals for Portugal at youth level. He made his senior international debut in March 2016 and was part of the victorious Euro 2016 Portugal squad at the age of just 18, making him the youngest Portuguese footballer to play an international tournament. He scored one goal in the competition and was also awarded the Young Player of the tournament, as Portugal captured the title for the first time in their history.

The 18-year-old was trailed by United last season but the uncertain managerial situation at the club made making a move for the midfielder difficult. On 10 May 2016, the Benfica ace signed a five-year contract,effective from 1 July, with German club Bayern Munich for €35 million.

The 53-year-old told Sport TV, “I arrived late. I signed in May, we started talking a week before, but completely out of the process. If I had arrived earlier, I’d fight for him,”

“Manchester United watched Renato many times and maybe I did it even more. In so much time at home, I watched many Benfica and Portuguese league games, I got to know the boy better with time.”

Jose is desperate to sign Paul Pogba this summer but the former Real Madrid manager insists he would have targeted Sanches had he been appointed earlier at the Theatre of Dreams.

“He is in a big club, in a league where he’ll certainly be the champion.The club have players of very high level which belong to the structure, a little like Benfica.”