Manchester United's dithering over Louis van Gaal cost them Renato Sanches move, says Bayern Munich chairman

The decision to bring in Mourinho had not yet been made by the club

Renato Sanches joined Bayern Munich for £36m (Getty Images)

Manchester United’s uncertainty over their next manager was the reason Portugal starlet Renato Sanches opted to join Bayern Munich instead, according to club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

The Red Devils spent a lot of last season scouting Sanches after he broke into the Benfica team and were in talks with the 19-year-old before he joined the Bundesliga champions on a five-year deal.

At the time of United’s interest however, there was uncertainty around Louis van Gaal’s future as manager and the club were unable to confirm to Sanches’ representatives that Jose Mourinho would be taking over.

And it looks like United could come to rue their indecision after Sanches helped Portugal to win Euro 2016 this summer, putting in some stand-out performances along the way.

“We knew very well that Renato had a firm offer from Manchester United,” said Rummenigge.

“I heard that the United deal couldn’t be completed as they didn’t know who their next manager would be.

“We invited Benfica’s president and Sanches’ agent to Madrid and that night we shook hands on the transfer.”

Renato Sanches joined Bayern Munich for £28m after Manchester United decided not to pursue him (Getty)

Rummenigge also revealed that Sanches’ agent text him after the former Benfica man scored in the quarter-final of the European Championships against Poland, saying: “I’m sure you’re happy you did the business really early.”

It is not the first time Rummenigge has been critical of Manchester United, with the two-time Balon d’Or winner furious with Mourinho’s treatment of Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was exiled to train with the under-23s in August.

“I could hardly believe it,” Rummenigge said at the time. “One or two players are going to think long and hard in future about whether they want to go to such a club.

“Nothing like that has ever happened at Bayern Munich.”