When Bayern Munich swooped in to sign Renato Sanches from under the noses of many of their European rivals, last summer, the move was considered an inspired bit of business for one of the most promising young talents in world football.
One year later and the young Portuguese midfielder looks set to leave Bavaria after a disappointing campaign under Carlo Ancelotti, in which he was kept on the sidelines for much of the season, looking on as his teammates secured a fifth successive Bundesliga title.
Sanches' struggles at Bayern have come as a surprise to many, especially given how impressively he took to the international stage last summer at Euro 2016 where, as the youngest player to represent Portugal at a major tournament, he was awarded Man of The Match honours for his performances against Croatia and Poland in the second round and quarter-finals, respectively.
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Sanches was instrumental in Portugal's Euro 2016 success, last summer. Images: PA
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Yet the 19-year-old would go on to make just 17 league appearances (only six of which were starts) for Bayern during the 2016/17 campaign and has been linked away from the Allianz Arena all summer, with Manchester United and Chelsea heavily linked with the former Benfica prodigy.
However, it would appear that the Premier League duo are both set to miss out on the Portuguese youngster once again, with Sanches recently rejecting a move to Stamford Bridge after an approach was made recently, with The Mirror reporting that Sanches believed the Blues' acquisition of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco would leave him warming another bench instead of enjoying regular first team football.
"Get fucked, now even this prick in the bear suit is starting ahead of me? I'm fucking off, mate." Image: PA
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Instead, it is now expected that Sanches will join the AC Milan revolution, with his fellow countryman Joao Mario, of rivals Inter, saying recently that he's been making efforts to convince Sanches to move to Italy.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport , Mario said, via Football Italia, "We spoke after Thursday's game (between Inter and Bayern Munich in Singapore).
"He is young and strong, so I understand that he wants to play consistently and there is a lot of competition for places at Bayern.
"I told him that if he goes to Milan, he'll find a great club and I'd have another friend in the city."
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Sanches has made his mind up over a move to AC Milan. Image: PA
And it now appears that Sanches has indeed heeded his friend's advice and has decided on a move to the Rossoneri, where he will join fellow new recruits Andre Silva, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Conti, Hakan Calhanoglu, Lucas Biglia, Franck Kessie, Ricardo Rodriguez, Matteo Musacchio and, erm, Fabio Borini, at the San Siro.
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(H/T Metro)
Topics: Football, AC Milan, Renato Sanches, Bayern Munich