Sanches has signed a five-year contract with last season's Ligue 1 Conforama runners-up, ending a two-year spell at Bayern Munich where he played only a bit-part role.

"I chose Lille because I wanted a club that really needed me, a club where I'd feel useful," explained the 22-year-old, who has cost Les Dogues a reported €25 million.

"I'm relaxed, because when I joined Bayern, I was also their club record signing. I'm not focussed on that. I'm just focussed on doing well here. The price tag doesn't give me any extra pressure."

Sanches burst onto the international scene as the powerful teenager who helped drive Portugal to their UEFA EURO 2016 triumph.

He revealed international teammate Jose Fonte and Lille's sporting director Luis Campos had convinced him the northern French club was the place for him to kickstart his career.

"I want to work to get back to the top. It happens in a player's career that there are less good times. I'll give my best to establish myself at Lille," said Sanches, who had played just five minutes of Bundesliga football for Bayern this season and is aware of the different challenge he now faces after crossing the border to France.

"It's very competitive with a lot of very technical and aggressive players. It's a different league to the Bundesliga. I hope we'll have a good season. I know there are very good teams in Ligue 1."

The ex-Benfica prodigy is unavailable for Wednesday's Week 3 encounter with Saint-Etienne, but boss Christophe Galtier is delighted to be working with such a promising talent.

"His profile interested us because he's young and dynamic. He is coming in from one of the best clubs in the world," explained the Lille boss.

"Thanks to his experience, he has potential and a certain quality. Like all youngsters, I think you have to steer him in the right direction, work and talk."