Alfie Mawson has revealed he and other Swansea City players had their doubts that Renato Sanches would arrive at the club.
Manager Paul Clement pulled off one of the most audacious signings of last month’s transfer window when he captured Bayern Munich midfielder Sanches in a one-year loan deal.
It was a move that appeared unlikely at the outset, even when heavy betting on the switch for the 20-year-old Portugal star began to take place in the days leading up to last week’s transfer deadline.
Swans centre-back Mawson has confessed that the dubious stance was not confined to those outside the club.
“Some of us may have thought ‘is it really going to go through? Is it nonsense?’” Mawson told Sky Sports News on Monday.
“You never know so until it all got confirmed it was just ‘that will be a good signing if we can pull it off’.
“Fair play to the manager, the chairman and the owners for pulling that off. They got that one over the line and I think he’s going to be a really big asset for us.”
Swans manager Paul Clement worked closely with Sanches during his time as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant at Bayern.
It was the crucial connection in sealing the deal for the player who burst onto the scene at Benfica before impressing for Portugal at Euro 2016, where at 18 he became the youngest finalist in the tournament’s history after he started in Portugal’s extra-time triumph over France in Paris.
But the midfielder made just nine starts for Bayern last season after a £27.5m move to the Bundesliga giants, and Mawson believes Sanches will benefit from game time at Swansea – even if his move to Wales came as something of a shock to the dressing room.
Mawson added: “We know the quality he possesses, he’s shown that especially for Portugal. At Bayern he didn’t get as many games I’m sure he would have liked, but he’s come to Swansea and he’s going to get the opportunity to play.”
England U21 defender Mawson is also excited at the prospect of linking with Wilfried Bony, as the Ivory Coast striker had left the Liberty Stadium for Manchester City before Mawson’s arrival from Barnsley.
“All I’ve heard is that he’s an absolute beast in training and in games,” said Mawson.
“The dressing room love him, Swansea love him, he’s going to be welcomed back with open arms and I know he’s going to score us goals.”