Renato Sanches has revealed that he did not want to sign for Swansea City on a season-long loan deal in 2017.
After emerging as one of the top talents in European football, Sanches was sent to the Welsh club by Bayern Munich with the intention of gaining regular first-team football.
However, Sanches, then 20 years of age, made just 12 appearances in the Premier League, and the Portuguese has now suggested that he had no desire to spend a campaign at the Liberty Stadium.
The player told L'Equipe: "It was not my choice to go to Swansea. I was forced to go there. I didn't want to go. I have respect for the club, the players, all the people I met there. I appreciated their humility.
"They gave me everything, but I did not want to be there. The most difficult moment? When I was injured, I couldn't train."
Sanches is now settled at Lille, making making 18 starts and seven substitute outings in all competitions since joining the club in August.
Darren Plant
