Renato Sanches has been impressive for Bayern Munich in each of his last two outings. Niko Kovac must continue to give the 21-year-old minutes.
Since bursting onto the European scene in 2016, Renato Sanches’ career has taken many twists and turns, most of which have not been for the good. However, the young Bayern Munich midfielder has been impressive in each of his two appearances this season. It’s important Niko Kovac continues to give him playing time, so he has ample opportunity to get back to his best.
The summer of 2016 was a monumental one for Renato Sanches. After a breakout season with Benfica, the 18-year-old made a big-money transfer to German giants Bayern Munich. That same summer he made his mark on the international game, playing a key role in Portugal’s Euro 2016 conquest.
His rapid rise to stardom led many to believe he’d be nothing short of a hit in Bavaria. However, that quickly proved not to be the case. Under Carlo Ancelotti — who wasn’t so successful himself at Bayern — Sanches found gametime hard to come by and failed to impress when chances were given him.
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His disappointing debut campaign in Munich led to an ill-advised loan move to Swansea City for the 2017-18 season. Unfortunately, Sanches’ career only further stagnated in Wales, where he did little in way of helping the Swans avoid relegation — a task that ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Heading into the ’18-19 season, many wondered whether or not Sanches had a place in the Bayern squad. The Bavarians’ midfield department was already crowded enough, and the impending arrival of Leon Goretzka did nothing to help make room for Sanches’ return.
The club, however, ultimately decided to keep Renato Sanches and offload veterans Arturo Vidal and Sebastian Rudy. Niko Kovac was keen to help the youngster develop and get back to his old form.
A promising pre-season gave glimmers of hope for the Bavarian faithful. Sanches consistently impressed in his performances, often looking one of Bayern’s best players. The 21-year-old didn’t allow that theme to discontinue once the regular season rolled around. No, with two competitive starts under his belt, Renato Sanches once again looks like the dynamic midfielder that once took Europe by storm.
Fittingly, the Portuguese starlet made his first competitive appearance against his former club, Benfica, in a Champions League group stage match in his own hometown. He capped off an excellent display with a fine goal, which received a standing ovation from both the home and away crowds.
Sanches continued the theme in his second competitive start of the season, against Augsburg yesterday. The 21-year-old was lively and full of confidence in midfield. He was Bayern’s most threatening player for most of the match and genuinely impressed yet again. He was, perhaps, a bit wasteful with his chances, but the positive aspects of his play far outweigh the negative.
With Corentin Tolisso out for several months thanks to an ACL tear, there’s plenty of minutes up for grab. Niko Kovac — who is a self-proclaimed lover of rotation — must carefully consider what to do with Renato Sanches.
While it’s important for Bayern to continue winning so early in the season, it’s also crucial for Niko Kovac to allow Sanches ample minutes to get back to his best. If the Croatian is truly dedicated to helping his player return to form, he has to prove it by trusting him on the pitch.
Consistent gametime is crucial for the midfielder, as he inches closer and closer back to his top form. A steady run of games in the Bundesliga could be the difference between the Renato Sanches Bayern bought from Benfica for €35 million and the one who couldn’t even break into the Swansea City squad.