'Weren't for me' - Ricardo Santos on new Bolton Wanderers deal & turning down other club options

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