Bayern Munich chairman reveals how they beat Manchester United in the race to sign Renato Sanches
Euro 2016 winner was on the verge of completing Old Trafford switch until German giants pipped them to his signature
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BAYERN MUNICH chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed how the German giants managed to beat Manchester United to the signing of highly-rated Portuguese star Renato Sanches.
The Euro 2016 winner looked set to join Old Trafford before the summer tournament but Bayern pipped the Red Devils to his signature in an initial £27million deal which could rise to a staggering £61m.
The 19-year-old went on to star for his country as Portugal were crowned Euro 2016 champions and Rummenigge said United's lack of manager meant Bayern were able to complete the transfer.
Speaking to , he said: "Renato had an offer from Manchester United.
"But I heard, one day before our game against Atletico that the transfer wasn't closed due to United not having a coach.
"We acted immediately. We invited Benfica's president and the player's agent to Madrid. The environment after the game wasn't good, but we agreed the transfer that night and closed the deal with a handshake."
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Sanches scored a beauty against Poland to equalise in the Euro quarter-finals and Rummenigge revealed how he received a text from the player's agent shortly afterwards.
He added: "The agent sent me a message after Renato's goal against Poland in the quarters saying: 'You can be very happy for making that deal so early.'"
If the midfielder had signed for United, then Jose Mourinho's transfer dealing could have ended differently.
Mourinho signed Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan this summer to bolster his squad in the centre of the park.