MANCHESTER UNITED have missed out on Portuguese sensation Renato Sanches, with the Benfica starlet having agreed a £27.5million move to Bayern Munich on a five-year deal.
The 18-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise at the Stadium of Light this term, and is set for a place in the Portugal squad for this summer’s Euro 2016.
The Red Devils looked destined to sign the midfielder and were believed to have agreed a deal in principle to take him to Old Trafford.
Sanches, who scored against Bayern in the Champions League quarter-final last month, only made his senior debut for Benfica in October.
Bayern tweeted: “DONE DEAL! 18-year-old Renato #Sanches will join from Benfica this summer. Welcome to #FCBayern!”
Chairman of the German champions Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: “We’re pleased we’ve been able to sign him despite big-name international competition.
“He is a dynamic, two-footed, combative and technically gifted midfielder who will strengthen our team further.”
The news is a bitter blow for United who had been virtual ever-presents in the Portuguese capital watching Sanches this season.
Whether or not it would have made a difference only Sanches himself knows, but the continuing uncertainty over who will be in charge at Old Trafford next season and the fact they are not guaranteed Champions League football certainly wouldn’t have helped their cause.
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