Joao Mario: 'AC Milan a great club for Renato Sanches'

Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario has tried to encourage fellow Portugal international Renato Sanches to join him in Serie A by moving to city rivals AC Milan.

Sanches was hotly-tipped to shine after making a move to Bayern Munich and impressing during Portugal's Euro 2016-winning campaign, but the 19-year-old has since struggled for playing time under coach Carlo Ancelotti.

It is thought that a number of European clubs are now eyeing a move for the young playmaker, and countryman Mario has suggested that AC might just be the perfect fit for Sanches.

"We spoke after Thursday's game [between Inter and Bayern in Singapore]," Mario told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He is young and strong, so I understand that he wants to play consistently and there is a lot of competition for places at Bayern.

"I told him that if he goes to Milan, he'll find a great club and I'd have another friend in the city."

Sanches joined Bayern from Benfica for £27.5m last summer.