Sought after Benfica starlet Renato Sanches has insisted that he is not affected by the continuous transfer speculation surrounding him.
The 18-year-old, who broke into Benfica’s first team in the present campaign, has been linked with a move away from the Portuguese giants next summer.
Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are all interested in snapping up Sanches, who has scored two goals in 19 games this season.
As a result, Benfica moved in quickly to increase the midfielder’s release clause €80m, in addition to tying him to a new contract until 2021.
And Sanches, who expressed his love for Benfica and the club’s fans, explained that he is unperturbed by the constant reports linking him with a move away from the Estadio da Luz.
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“I feel normal because my present focus is Benfica and it will always remain so”, he told Portuguese daily A Bola.
“I feel a great affection for Benfica, this is where I grew up, I've been here for ten years, I feel good and the [transfer] speculation does not affect my head.
"It's good to hear my name, it gives me great confidence. I thank them for the special affection they have for me."
Sanches, who is a product of Benfica’s youth system, is yet to earn a senior cap for Portugal, but has represented the nation up to Under-19 level.
