{"id":3735,"date":"2026-09-08T12:01:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T12:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3735"},"modified":"2026-09-08T12:01:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T12:01:15","slug":"what-xabi-alonso-said-about-renato-sanches-in-2016-as-chelsea-consider-free-agent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3735","title":{"rendered":"What Xabi Alonso said about Renato Sanches in 2016 as Chelsea consider free agent"},"content":{"rendered":"


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There have been a few suggestions that Chelsea might consider signing a free agent after missing out on Lamine Camara, and Renato Sanches is said to be an option for Xabi Alonso\u2019s side.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Euro 2016 winner, former PSG, Benfica and Bayern Munich star Renato Sanches is currently a free agent. A loan to Panathinaikos didn\u2019t materialise into a permanent deal, and he left PSG at the end of his deal. <\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s settle this, Chelsea are better off with Reece James at right-back\u2026 \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n

Do you prefer James in midfield or at right-back \u2013 and why?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Reports say that Chelsea considered signing Sanches<\/a> after Monaco blocked the sale of Camara in the final hours of the summer window. However, it has not gone beyond that, and the Blues are yet to do a deal.<\/p>\n

Chelsea<\/a> remain light in midfield, though. Jordan Henderson and Moises Caicedo are injured, while Alonso is yet to trust Valentin Barco<\/a>. It has seen Reece James and Malo Gusto used as makeshift midfielders.<\/p>\n

Xabi Alonso played alongside Renato Sanches at Bayern Munich<\/h2>\n

Despite Sanches still only in his twenties, he played alongside Alonso in a Bayern Munich shirt. Alonso spent three years at Bayern between 2014 and 2017, with Sanches joining the club for \u00a330m in 2016.<\/p>\n

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Photo by A. Beier\/FC Bayern via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two played together a total of 10 times for Bayern Munich, winning eight times, drawing once against Koln and losing once to Hoffenheim. Clearly, Alonso knows all about Sanches and who he could sign.<\/p>\n

What Xabi Alonso said about Renato Sanches back in 2016<\/h2>\n

Sanches had just signed for Bayern after winning Euro 2016, when Alonso \u2013 still playing \u2013 was asked about the Portugal star: \u201cHe\u2019s 18, 19 in August and he\u2019s such a promising player. He has so much power.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo much energy. He\u2019s hungry to win; I\u2019m looking forward to working with him. So far he\u2019s European champions with Portugal. Can he learn from me? Maybe I\u2019m able to learn some things from him as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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With Enzo Fernandez gone and Lamine Camara staying at Monaco, who should partner Moises Caicedo in midfield this season?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Will Chelsea make a move for Sanches in due course?<\/h2>\n

Right now, the chances of Chelsea signing a free agent and in particular, Sanches, are slim. But should Reece James, Romeo Lavia or Valentin Barco join Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson, who knows.<\/p>\n

Caicedo and Henderson are injured and Chelsea are lacking midfielders. An injury to another midfielder heightens the need for additions considerably. If Chelsea do sign a free agent, it is likely to be Sanches.<\/p>\n

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