"?Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has suggested that the reigning German champions might not have been able to complete a deal for teenage sensation Renato Sanches had they waited until after Euro 2016 because his price tag would have soared.
"Was I surprised by Renato Sanches' performances at Euro 2016? Yes and no," Rummenigge is quoted as saying by ESPN after talking to Soester Anzeiger.
"It's extraordinary when someone plays at the Euros like he did at the tender age of 18. I was nowhere near that level at the age of 18. But then again, he does seem to have extraordinary talents."
Bayern were able to seal an early €35m deal, striking out of the blue in April when Manchester United were actually thought to be the ones who would snap up the midfielder.
Having already impressed for Benfica in the Champions League, Sanches soon then became the youngest Portuguese player to represent the country at a major tournament.
He was much more than just a substitute too, winning a place in the starting line-up midway through the competition and scoring a crucial goal against Poland at the quarter-final stage.
"We are happy that we made the decision to sign him quite early, after the Champions League quarterfinal tie against Benfica," Rummenigge added. "And we are very happy that we had the courage to spend big on him in April because €35m is a lot of money.
"Bayern would not have been able to afford him had we tried to sign him after the Euros. We would be talking about crazy money now. And he would definitely not be playing in the Bundesliga next term then."
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