A few butterflies are to be expected when – like one of Daniel Farke’s Leeds United roster – a first ever call up to the senior national side arises.
Yet, for a player looking to make his mark with the first-team after only one outing for the Under-21s, those nerves are not only fuelled by the prospect of an international debut in front of the entire nation.
Alvyn Sanches faces plenty of prying eyes over the next few days. Not just from the media who have anointed the Lausanne Sport talisman one of the diamonds of this next generation of Swiss gems, but amongst a squad who will be expecting Sanches to showcase his musical chops as well as his footballing ability during his first outing with the Switzerland side.
By his own admission, Sanches is leaning towards a rendition of French rapper Tiakola as he prepares for his initiation.
This is, however, a footballer who prefers to do his talking – or his singing, in this case – on the pitch.
Leeds United are interested in bringing him to Elland Road over the summer. The £7 million-rated Alvyn Sanches is one of a number of options considered for the number ten role, alongside Emi Buendia, Eduard Spertsyan and Viktoria Plzen’s Pavel Sulc.
And should Sanches make West Yorkshire the next destination in his journey towards the elite, he will be reunited with a very familiar face. Not for the first time this year either.
Isaac Schmidt knows Leeds United target Alvyn Sanches very well
Sanches is one of a number of players looking to earn their first caps under Murat Yakin during this month’s clashes with Northern Ireland and Luxembourg. Isaac Schmidt, three years older than Sanches at the age of 25, has also been included.
Schmidt played with Sanches in the Lausanne Sport academy. But while the latter stayed put to carve out a reputation as arguably the brightest homegrown talent in the Swiss league, Schmidt opted to take a different route.
After four seasons with St Gallen, the versatile full-back joined Leeds in a £2.5 million deal last summer.
“The first time I saw Alvyn, I was 10 or 11 years old,” Schmidt recalls, speaking to Blick when asked about his ‘childhood friend’.
“I was playing with the Lausanne Sport Under-13s and we decided to play a two-against-ten against the neighbourhood kids! We thought we would win 10-0!
“Except that, on the opposing team, there was a certain Alvyn, whom I didn’t know yet, and who must have been 7 or 8 years old. He had braids and he was already so good! Technically too strong!”
Fifteen years later, the extraordinary natural gifts that saw Sanches stand out well above his age group have followed him into the men’s game. A mesmerising solo run and dagger-like finish against Yverdon Sport epitomised Alvyn Sanches’ ‘special’ talents.
In all competitions, the silky attacking midfielder has 15 goals to go with his four assists.
Sanches could take Raphinha route as he opens up on Barcelona dream
According to reports, it is his versatility, as well as his ability, that has attracted the attention of clubs in England. Leeds admire the way Sanches can play all across the frontline.
“I like to have fun on the pitch, playing with the ball,” the man himself explains. “Of course, I’m here to discover the national team, but I also want to show what I can do.”
Lausanne Sport coach Ludovic Magnin has already confirmed that the Leeds target plans to leave this summer, while Alvyn Sanches’ agent insists he will only choose a club with a ‘concrete project’.
His dream destination is, as is the case for so many, Barcelona.
Catalonia can wait for now, however. Sanches knows that the path taken by the likes of Raphinha is the one with the least bumps in the road. Raphinha became a world-leading attacker at Barcelona but it was Leeds who put the Brazil superstar on the map.
“Above all, the most important thing, more than the country, will be the club’s project,” Sanches admits.
“It will be important not to rush things, to find a club that is neither too high nor too low, where I can play, progress, and have fun.”
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