Renato Sanches and Bayern Munich weigh options for a loan

Fans of Renato Sanches noted with disappointment, or perhaps resignation, that the young midfielder did not even feature on Bayern Munich’s bench yesterday. Sanches was absent, however, not because he had been overlooked yet again by Carlo Ancelotti, but rather because he is currently deliberating potential loan destinations.

Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic explained the situation after the game. Brazzo stated, “He asked the coach [not to be included in the squad] and isn’t here today.” The reason for this surprising request is the fact that Sanches and the club are working behind the scenes to finalize a suitable loan arrangement.

Brazzo added that Sanches “naturally has a few offers, but I can’t announce a completed deal yet.”

Carlo Ancelotti expressed his indifference to Sanches’s fate this season a few days before Bayern’s away game in Bremen:

Renato knows his position on the team. He knows that competition is fierce. If he stays, that’s okay for me; if he decides to go, that’s also okay.

Languishing on the bench for another year appears, wisely, not okay for Sanches and Bayern’s front office, who seem intent on finding a club that can give the youngster meaningful playing time imminently.