LOSC midfielder Renato Sanches is revelling in his return to top form at a club chasing Champions League qualification.
The UEFA EURO 2016 champion joined the northern French outfit in a club record deal from Bayern Munich last summer and in recent weeks has rediscovered the level that once saw him as one of the most talked about young players on the continent. Still only 22, Sanches told L'Equipe: "I feel happy at last. All young players want to play. Personally, I know I have qualities. I want to show them by playing. Now I feel very good."
Bayern was a struggle for the gifted Portuguese international and he admitted: "When I saw things weren't working out, I spoke to José Fonte and Luis Campos every day. We saw each other in Lisbon when I was on holiday and I told them I wanted to come to Lille. My agent proposed me other clubs but I had made my decision that I wanted to come to Lille.
"I felt their confidence in me. I had good feelings about it. I spoke to the coach and the president and that comforted me in my desire.Lille are not a small club. We play against could clubs like Marseille, Lyon and Paris. If you do the job and you play well then you'll be recognised for it. What I wanted was to play and to be happy again."
Lille are fourth in the table ahead of hosting Toulouse on Saturday evening. Last season's runners-up are one point behind third-placed Rennes.
