Renato Júnior Luz Sanches (foto: Getty Images)
Renato Sanches will return to Paris Saint-Germain after Benfica decided not to activate his purchase option. The midfielder’s future remains uncertain despite still being only 27.
Renato Sanches is back at square one. Once hailed as a generational midfield talent, the Portuguese international is set to return to Paris Saint-Germain, as Benfica have opted not to make his loan permanent.
Despite showing flashes of his old self in Lisbon, Sanches did not convince Benfica to trigger the buy clause, leaving him bound once again to PSG, where he is under contract until 2027 but holds no real place in the club’s long-term plans.
It's easy to forget that Sanches is still just 27 years old. His career has been a winding journey since his explosive rise as a teenager. After bursting onto the scene at Benfica and shining for Portugal at Euro 2016, he earned a big-money move to Bayern Munich. But the step up proved too steep at the time, and what followed was a string of loans and mixed fortunes.
His first loan to Swansea brought little success, but a stint at Lille helped him briefly rediscover form and confidence, leading to a move to PSG in 2022. However, injuries and competition for places meant he quickly fell out of favour in Paris, prompting two consecutive loans—first to Roma, and then back to his boyhood club Benfica.
While his performances in Portugal were respectable, Benfica ultimately decided against investing in the player. His current market value stands at just €3 million, a stark contrast to the expectations once placed upon him.
Sanches made his senior debut for Portugal at age 17 and has since earned 32 caps and scored three goals, but he has not featured regularly for the national team in recent years.
At this point in his career, Renato Sanches remains a puzzle—gifted, experienced, but unfulfilled, still trying to reclaim the spark that made him one of the most exciting prospects of his generation.
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Written by Klemen Kos , football journalist with 20 years of experience.
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