Exciting Portugal youngster Tiago Santos looking to continue Lille’s Luso success story | OneFootball

French club LOSC Lille has proved a highly successful foreign spot for Portuguese footballers to develop in recent years. Under Luso coach Paulo Fonseca, the trend continues with summer recruit Tiago Santos joining Tiago Djaló in French Flanders in his first venture abroad.

20-year-old full-back Santos cost Lille €6.5m from Estoril, where he developed a reputation for his adventurous and skilful attacking play. A former Sporting academy prospect, Santos will be looking to become the latest Portuguese to thrive at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Seleção international André Gomes revived his career with Lille last season on a loan deal from Everton, while Renato Sanches’ two years spent at the club after leaving Bayern Munich led to a high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain. Previously, Rafael Leão and Rony Lopes had productive seasons in Nord.

“I’m really excited to be with this team,” Santos told the club media. “My goal is to improve every day and to help the team reach its goals. I will give everything for the club and I’m really looking forward to seeing the fans at the stadium.

“I can play right-back, I can play further forward as well. I can fill in at centre-back if I have to! I really love attacking and defending so I think right-back is the perfect position for me. I’m a player who gives everything on the field and just enjoys the game.

“After I left Sporting I joined Estoril’s U23 side and last year they promoted me to the first team. It was a dream come true, playing in the Portuguese top flight.

“I didn’t know the City [of Lille] but obviously I knew [the club] LOSC Lille. They were champions recently and it’s a big club. The Portuguese presence? I think it’s important; I’m going to a new place and there’s a little bit of home there, but I want to discover a new culture and meet new people. This is football.”

Santos reportedly attracted interest from Benfica earlier this summer. However, Sporting invoked an ‘anti-rival’ clause in his contract meaning they would be entitled to €20m in compensation should the youngster complete the move, allowing Lille a clear road to sign Santos to a long-term contract.