Renato Sanches’ birth certificate released by hospital [Diário de Notícias]

1. The Renato Sanches age saga is over

Portugal youngster Renato Sanches has truly had a breakout summer that will likely define his career.

After a stunning first campaign for Benfica and constant links with Manchester United, Renato Sanches moved to Bayern Munich in May for a transfer fee that could rise to 80 million euros.

This was followed by an excellent Euro 2016 where Renato Sanches has shown what all the fuss is about with some fine performances.

Sanches scored in the Euro 2016 quarter-final for Portugal against Poland, where he became the youngest player to ever win a man of the match award at a European Championship match.

On Sunday, Renato Sanches is expected to be in the Portugal side that plays France in the Euro 2016 final.

2. RENATO SANCHES IS 18

As Sanches came to prominence, so did issues surrounding how old he is.

Ultimately, Sanches has played so well for Benfica and Portugal that many haters could not believe that he was 18.

These doubts were given a little more credence by Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias who carried out an investigation to prove that the player’s date of birth was the date stipulated – August 18, 1997 – it transpired that the birth hadn’t been registered until 2002, a full five years later.

But this late registration was due to his parents’ break-up; his father emigrated to France just 5 months after Renato’s birth, and it was only when he returned to Portugal 5 years later that the registration could be completed.

So heated has this age controversy become that it has been a huge source of animosity between two of Portugal’s biggest clubs: Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.

3. Diário de Notícias release Renato Sanches’ birth certificate

On Saturday, Portuguese newspaper Diário de Notícias released Renato Sanches’ birth certificate to finally end the saga.

Renato Sanches is indeed 18, and was born on August 18, 1997.

The birth certificate was produced by the Hospital de Amadora-Sintra.

And, this confirms that Renato Sanches is indeed the youngest player to ever appear in a European Championship semi-final.

See the birth certificate via Diário de Notícias  here