Renato Sanches to Bayern Munich: Latest Transfer Details, Reaction and More

Bayern Munich have confirmed the signing of Benfica's midfield star Renato Sanches for a fee of €35 million on a five-year deal.

The Bavarians announced the news on Twitter:

In a statement that revealed his deal will keep him at the Allianz Arena until 2021, club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said of Sanches: "FC Bayern has been watching Renato Sanches for a long period. We’re pleased we’ve been able to sign him despite big-name international competition. Renato is dynamic, a good tackler and a technically skilled midfielder who’ll add even more strength to our team."

Bayern deputy chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen gave further details on the deal:

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The transfer fee for the current international, who was voted the Shooting Star of Portuguese Football in his home country yesterday evening, is €35 million, plus possible bonus payments that could become due if for example the player is named in the World Team of the Year or FIFA World Player of the Year.

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The Bundesliga champions also shared a video of the youngster's medical:

Manchester United had been linked with Sanches for some time following a breakthrough season at Benfica, per Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail. Reaction poured in on social media with the Red Devils missing out on a highly promising young player: 

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Big fan of #MUFC being quoted €60 or €80m for Renato Sanches, while Bayern turn up and actually get him for €35m. Seems about right.

— Tom Coast (@thcoast) May 10, 2016"

As noted by Portuguese football writer Jan Hagen and Bleacher Report UK's Clark Whitney, it isn't quite the bargain deal it initially seems when compared with the prices reported for the Red Devils:

Bleacher Report UK captured how United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward might be feeling about the deal:

A strong and powerful box-to-box midfielder, Sanches should add further creativity and verve to Bayern's engine room and will have the opportunity to learn from one of the best around in Arturo Vidal.

Further, with Xabi Alonso set to turn 35 next season, another industrious player alongside him or to rotate with him should prolong his usefulness to the team.

He only made his debut for Benfica's senior team in October last year but went on to become a key starter for the Portuguese title favourites. For such a young player, he has shown amazing maturity in the 2015-16 campaign and has a remarkable ability to dictate play from the middle of the park.

Sanches put in a pair of unspectacular but solid performances against his new side in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and did not look daunted at all playing at the top level.

See some of his best bits from an excellent campaign below:

Bayern have secured their first capture of Carlo Ancelotti's reign, and it's one that can help secure their future as Sanches could potentially be a key part of their side for the next decade or more.

As for United, after scouting him so extensively—24 matches in a row, according to Hagen—they must turn their attention elsewhere as they look to match their rivals next season.