Renato Sanches showed glimpses of quality but ultimately failed to light up the Liberty Stadium on debut as Swansea slipped to defeat against Newcastle

Renato Sanches was the teenager with the world at his feet when he joined Bayern Munich last summer for a £30m fee that could more than double with add-ons.

Just 12 months later after struggling to settle with the Bundesliga champions he’s ended up on loan at Swansea trying to rebuild his career and reputation.

Sportsmail studied his debut against Newcastle to analyse what he’s got – and whether Swans boss Paul Clement, who worked with Portugal’s Euro 2016 winner in Munich, can help him regain his glitter.

Sportsmail studied loan star Renato Sanches's Swansea debut against Newcaslte on Sunday

Sportsmail studied loan star Renato Sanches's Swansea debut against Newcaslte on Sunday

 

PASSING:


Mostly kept it simple, but occasionally offered a delicious glimpse of his ability as he’d try something of the outside of his right foot. Too many of the times he tried to go forward ended up at the feet of a Newcastle player, though. 

Sanches mostly kept it simple but did misplace some of his passes on a few occassions

Sanches mostly kept it simple but did misplace some of his passes on a few occassions

He found himself on the right wing one or two times and swung in a cross but it was cleared

He found himself on the right wing one or two times and swung in a cross but it was cleared

 

TACKLING:

He’s brave, shaking off a body check that earned Isaac Hayden an early booking and also a heavy collision with Mikel Merino. Not one for a bone-crunching tackle himself, though. He shied away from a couple of 50-50s trying instead to nick the ball with a bit of skill.

Sanches won several free-kicks and will have to get used to the physicality of English football

Sanches won several free-kicks and will have to get used to the physicality of English football

The Portugal international shied away from a couple of 50-50s trying instead to nick the ball

The Portugal international shied away from a couple of 50-50s trying instead to nick the ball

 

SHOOTING:

There will be more to come, he had only one effort from a second half free kick that went several yards over the bar. Mostly he was playing too deep to get in position to have a go.

 

FITNESS:

Lots of work to be done by Swansea’s staff. He lasted 68 minutes before being subbed in favour of Wilfried Bony. Looks like he missed a lot of pre-season work in Munich while his future was being resolved. 

He was reduced to limited appearances  last season and still seems to be struggling for fitness

He was reduced to limited appearances last season and still seems to be struggling for fitness

 

X-FACTOR:

That’s the one thing he has got. Every time he got the ball you had the sense that something might happen, even though mostly it didn’t. Swansea’s fans are willing him to be special, and when he played further forward after half time they were hints of the flair that’s there if Clement can bring it out of him.

Every time he got the ball there was a sense something might happen, though mostly it didn¿t

Every time he got the ball there was a sense something might happen, though mostly it didn’t

 

VERDICT:

A quiet debut. A boy who thrived in his home environment in Portugal clearly struggled when he was in Germany and Swansea’s staff will have to work to help him settle in South Wales. The word in Munich was that language was a problem so the good news is he speaks a bit of English. At one stage he got in a discussion with Kyle Naughton about who should have been where. The talent is there. But the Premier League can be every bit as unforgiving as the Bundesliga and a team scrapping in the lower half of the table is a tough place to rebuild your confidence.