In 2016, Renato Sanches won it all. Thanks to the wonderful and promising season in Benfica Lisbon, the Portuguese midfielder discovered Selecao. Chance to win Euros in France, just that. He was also named the best young player in the competition. But this is nothing compared to what awaits him next. Italian newspaper Tuttosport He rewarded him with the Golden Boy Cup, succeeding Anthony Martial. The year of consolidating his potential was also through a move to Bayern Munich. But from there began the gradual descent into hell. actually.
From rough block to flop, the stunning start to Renato Sanchez’s career
At the end of his first season as a professional, Renato Sanchez has seen an amazing rise. From the Portuguese promise to the Bavarian hopeful, everything was decided quickly for him. But his first season under the colors of Munich is far from the expectations. Despite his young age, he had already found a confidence and maturity that could have allowed him to find more playing time, but in the end, the outcome of his first season was mixed. He played just 17 games and then was sent out on loan to Swansea City in a bid to collect more minutes. In England, however, his career took an alarming turn.
During his season competing with the Pelicans in 2017/18, he could not prevent his club from being relegated to the Second Division. A tough season collectively, and even more so from an individual point of view. In fact, he will finally have played just 12 games during his first and only season in the Premier League. In a pinch, frequent injuries. In total, Renato Sanchez missed 25 matches due to a physical defect. But in addition to the number of matches played, it is especially necessary to consider the number of minutes obtained. And in this game Renato Sanchez is still far from full matches. Although he only played 12 games, he averaged 57 minutes per game.
Upon his return to Bayern Munich, he is still working to earn more playing time in the Bundesliga. But this time, he faces tough competition and will only play 17 matches. In his Bavarian career, the Portuguese midfielder has averaged just 34 minutes per game.
Arriving in Lille, mixed return?
During the summer of 2019, a completely new challenge awaits Renato Sanchez. This time around, much less pressure since the 2016 Golden Boy left Bayern Munich to join LOSC. He arrived for 20 million euros, at that time the most expensive transfer in the history of the northern club. In his three seasons in the north of France, Renato Sanchez has produced increasingly mature and sometimes impressive performances. So much so that he is one of the greatest craftsmen to be named French Champion in 2021 at the end of a great season that he and his teammates achieved.
However, his deeds are the tree that hides a forest of wounds. During his three seasons at Lille, Renato Sanchez was injured ten times. In total, he will have missed 39 encounters with the Mastiff. During his recovery, he will have played around 64 minutes per game. A much higher total than before, but still testament to an unsettling physical fragility.
Renato Sanchez, very fair physique for the high level
Like his departure from Benfica Lisbon to join Bayern Munich, Renato Sanchez left LOSC in the summer of 2022 to join Paris Saint-Germain. This time again, the difference in level is significant. And more than 8 months after his arrival, for 15 million euros, the result is clear. The Portuguese midfielder does not have the physique to play at a very high level. This season, his body has made him relapse back into his failures. Averaging 35 minutes of playing time per game, he played only 17 league matches to very little effect. Blame it on the physique you keep giving up on at the worst of times. After being released due to injury against Nice from the start of the encounter, Renato Sanchez again affected a close quarters according to the team.
With such physical turmoil, there is no doubt that Renato Sanchez will not live a classic career for the time being. However, he continued to show that he can be an excellent player at times. His style and vision of the game remains intact despite the lack of confidence. We can only hope that one day he can be consistent over the course of an entire season in order to see him, finally, on a level that might be his.
