Sometimes some kids just grow faster than others. Not every young player needs to be given time to grow and mature before getting their chance in the first team. Sanches has already proven on the biggest stage that he can cope with the pressure and not be out of place in a knockout game. There's no talk of his age or how this guy is still a teenager. He's arguably been one of Porugal's best players and Bayern and Ancelotti may have found a really good one.
When I heard Bayern had bought Sanches, I wondered who this kid was. What confused me was why this was such a big deal. This isn't the signing of Messi or Morata; it's just some kid from Portugal who's not really been on the global radar. So why was this such big news?
They say the eye is the great determinator, and before judging the kid I felt I had to at least see him play. So the first time I laid eyes on him was a friendly Portugal played with England. On first impression, he looked pretty good in his control of the ball, nice balance, and overall decent but nothing particularly special. But this was only a friendly and he didn't play for that long.
Now came the Euros, and this was where the matches would be quicker and more fierce. Ever since Sanches has come on, he's looked like the brightest and most exciting player for Portugal. Always looking to move forward, steadying himself to face a defender and try and beat them. There's an effectiveness to his football and he's not afraid to try things, make mistakes and go again. He's played so well that Santos has now had to start him.
When talking about how he fits into Bayern, this makes for interesting thinking because you wonder where Ancelotti will play him. Some people think he's a central midfielder or a wide player, but I think it would be wise to start him out on the flank because that's where he's looked at his most effective for Portugal so far. I think though, a longer term plan should be to slowly retrain him as an attacking midfielder in the center.
I look at attributes when thinking of what role best suits a player. Sanches has good control, he can dribble, and knows how to combine with a player and pop off a shot. What I have yet to see from his game is playmaking and penetrative passing. That can be taught, and if he can hone that skill and improve the others he already has, he can change the way Bayern Munich attack.
There isn't a player like him at Bayern. Someone who can get the ball in the center and make things happen. He'd be wasted out on the flanks and Bayern already have enough options in those roles. It's in the middle where they can do with some creativity and someone trying to work off of Muller and Lewandowski. That area can get very congested and so only a gifted player can navigate it, and I believe Sanches has the raw materials to develop into a player that can work in very difficult but important position.
So from me not knowing who or what he was to now thinking this could be the next big star that Portugal produce, show the kind of player Sanches is. I'm looking forward to seeing how his career progresses and he's picked the perfect club to hone his talents, and one of the nicest and best coaches to work with. HH
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