Ricardo Santos admits he would have wanted to sign an even longer contract at Bolton Wanderers after he agreed a new deal this summer and though he had options elsewhere he wanted to commit his future to the Whites.
The 27-year-old central defender joined Wanderers in the summer of 2020 and played every single game of the club's promotion season out of League Two. He followed that up with 43 appearances in the recently concluded 2021/22 campaign and has become instrumental to Ian Evatt's side.
Santos was installed as the club's captain last season following the departure of Antoni Sarcevic to Stockport County. He was crowned the club's players' player of the year at the end of season awards ceremony and has racked up a total of 91 appearances since joining the club.
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The defender's contract had been due to expire in the summer of 2023 and with 12 months left to go before he would have became a free agent this time next year. His impressive performances on the pitch had caught the attentions of clubs in the division above in the Championship.
During the campaign the defender had said he wished to focus on the rest of the season and that he did not want to rush into any decisions with the focus on promotion, though he stressed that he was happy at Wanderers. Talks took place over the summer and a fresh three-year deal for the Wanderers skipper was agreed.
Speaking at the club's Portugal training base, Santos told the Manchester Evening News that there were offers from elsewhere on the table for him. But he vowed that Wanderers is the club for him and he wants to build on the success he has already achieved with the Whites.
He said: “I was over the moon. We had a brief chat during the season, me and the gaffer, and at the time we were focusing on getting promoted so I told the gaffer I don’t really want to focus on me, I want to focus on the team and get promoted.
“But once the season was done, to be honest with you it happened within a week. We just sat down and then I was on holiday. My agent went and spoke to him (Evatt) and called me and said ‘everything’s done’ and when I got back, I signed.
“It happened really quick to be fair. I had other options there, but it weren’t for me. This is the place for me and the gaffer is the right manager for me and the club is the right club for me and I just want to build on with the club.
“It’s a decent contract to be fair. I’m happy with it and to be fair, if I could have signed more I would have. But three years is enough for me.”
He added: "Moving from Peterborough to London and I just wanted to find a home and I’ve found it and I’m happy to be here for another few years. Every day me and the gaffer talk and he gives me a lot of encouragement and just shows a lot of belief in me and I just want to pay it back and do well for the club.”
Santos has spent the week in Portugal with his team mates at a pre-season training camp, from which they are soon to return from. The club's first pre-season friendly is against Longridge Town away on Tuesday evening.
The Wanderers skipper hails from Portugal and spoke warmly of the club's pre-season training camp and the team spirit which it is helping to cultivate. New signing Jack Iredale is a part of the group and has been warmly welcomed into the squad.
He said: "It’s different to being back at Bolton. My missus has told me earlier it’s actually hot there surprisingly, but it’s different surroundings and other stuff with the food, we can go in the pool and recover. Just to be around here and be with the boys and bonding is good.
“It builds team spirit faster being away from home and it’s just good for us and it’s exciting.
“To be fair he’s come out of his shell very quick but I think that’s what happens when you go abroad. You have to come out of your shell and being around the boys, he already knows Geth. We even watch Love Island together at 9pm! He’s a good guy.”
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