Renato Sanches Age Questioning Is a 'Joke,' Says Portugal Boss Fernando Santos

Portugal manager Fernando Santos has branded claims that Renato Sanches is older than 18 as "a joke."

According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (h/t ESPN FC), Santos said: "Everyone knows [Sanches]. He was born in Portugal like I was, and registered like I was. He is 18, I am 61. This is a joke." 

Santos was responding to comments made by French football manager Guy Roux, who told Romanian broadcaster Dolce Sport (h/t David F. Sanchidrian of AS): "He says that he is 18 years old, but I believe that we have to look at his past. His date of birth was declared years after he was born, so his registered date is not correct. I can assure you that he is 23 or 24."

Per the Telegraph's Sam Wallace, Sanches and his family "rejected wholesale" the allegations, which centred on his birth being registered five years after the fact by his parents following their separation, and "the feeling at [former club] Benfica has always been that the questions over his age are simply a smear started by Sporting Lisbon fans."

Portuguese football writer Jan Hagen also moved to dismiss the notion:

Sanches, who signed for Bayern Munich prior to UEFA Euro 2016, has been the highlight of Portugal's campaign thus far with a series of excellent performances helping to see them through to the semi-finals.

His performances have won him many admirers, not least Hagen and football journalist Rafael Hernandez:

"

Kimmich and Renato Sanches, or how Bayern Munich potentially has two of the best midfielders of the next generation.

— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) July 2, 2016"

With Cristiano Ronaldo yet to take Euro 2016 by storm, the youngster's power and dynamism in midfield could represent Portugal's best chance of beating Wales to reach Sunday's final.

Sanches has announced his arrival on the international stage in style this summer, and the future looks bright for the midfielder, his club and his country.