Two international debuts, and two very different evenings for a couple of childhood friends who could yet be reunited at Leeds United in the Premier League next season.
In the build up to Switzerland’s 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on Friday night, Isaac Schmidt reminisced about the first time he saw Alyvn Sanches with a ball at his feet.
They were both kids at the time. Schmidt three years older but a fellow up-and-comer in the Lausanne Sport academy.
Alvyn Sanches, Schmidt explains, was ‘already so good’ even as a seven year old testing himself out against players far further along in their development; ‘Technically, too strong’.
And as Daniel Farke reportedly considers a summer move for Sanches – the now-Lausanne Sport talisman is valued in the region of £7 million – he and Schmidt could be recalling their boyhood days together at Leeds United soon enough.
Well, that may have been the plan anyway.
Alvyn Sanches was already ‘technically too strong’ when rising through the ranks all those years ago. Now, the French-born 22-year-old may have to prove that his mind as his tough as his body after suffering an injury which could end his current campaign and cast a shadow over the next one.
Photo by RvS.Media/Basile Barbey/Getty Images
Photo by RvS.Media/Basile Barbey/Getty Images
Alvyn Sanches suffers injury as Leeds United wait on transfer target
While Isaac Schmidt earned glowing praise from Switzerland boss Murat Yakin following that friendly draw with Northern Ireland – the coach ‘really liked’ what he saw from Leeds’ £2.5 million acquisition – Yakin’s smile turned into a frown when asked to provide an update on Sanches’ situation.
Sanches, somewhat poetically, made a senior Swiss debut alongside Schmidt in Belfast. And he too looked to have made a very positive impression when injecting some urgency into a tired Switzerland display, nearly assisting the winning goal late on.
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But as Sanches fell to the turf in stoppage time, clutching his knee in obvious pain, Yakin was understandably left fearing the worst.
ℹ️ Alvyn Sanches reist mit dem Team in die Schweiz und kehrt heute noch zu seinem Club @lausanne_sport zurück, wo er sich weiteren Untersuchungen unterziehen wird.
ℹ️ Alvyn Sanches voyage avec l'équipe en Suisse et retourne aujourd'hui même dans son club, le FC Lausanne-Sport,…
— 🇨🇭 Nati (@nati_sfv_asf) March 22, 2025
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“It didn’t look good. That would be a huge loss. He’s still in pain,” the former Basel captain sighed. “He slipped after a bouncing ball. We can’t say anything more specific yet.
“It would be extremely bitter if it’s something serious. We’ve seen what he’s capable of in the two or three actions.”
As recently as last year, Sanches spent three months out of action with a knee injury. As he left the field limping, supported by the Swiss medical staff, a three-month lay-off may actually be the best he can hope for
Sanches has now returned to Lausanne Sport to undergo an assessment.
Amid reports of interest from Elland Road – Leeds United are big admirers of his flexibility across the frontline – Alvyn Sanches had planned to bid farewell to Lausanne Sport this summer.
While Barcelona is his dream, Sanches knows that he first needs a club willing to give him the time, the patience, and the freedom to blossom in a major European league before he can realistically think about the blue and red of the Camp Nou.
As such, Leeds can offer Sanches the Raphinha treatment in West Yorkshire.
And with Daniel Farke set on a new number ten, Leeds may now be waiting with baited breath themselves with the extent of Sanches’ injury set to become clear over the coming days.