Returning to one of the big leagues after spending some time in Turkey, Nani’s move to Valencia in Spain came while the winger was shining as one of Portugal’s main men on their road to Euro glory.
Having spent a season at Fenerbahçe, the player was keen to return to one of the big four leagues, with the 30-year-old already picking up two goals and four assists in 11 league appearances, even if Valencia as a team aren’t having the best of times, currently 17th in La Liga.
Before all of this, though, the player spent seven years at Manchester United, currently managed by José Mourinho, and Nani, speaking to Sport/Foot in Belgium, explained how the move to Old Trafford came about back in 2007, even if Barcelona would have been his destination of choice at the time ‘because his idol, Luis Figo, used to play there, as did ‘Il Fenomeno’ Ronaldo’.
He said: “When I became a professional footballer, I’d always had the ambition of wearing the shirt of a world class club, whether it be Chelsea, Real Madrid or Arsenal, but Carlos Queiroz (Manchester United’s assistant manager at the time) was interested in me, and because Cristiano Ronaldo was already a Red Devil, doors opened and I signed in 2007.
“That year, we won the title and the Champions League. I played a lot and score my penalty in the Moscow final. That was when, for the first time, I realised I’d made it.”
Over the course of his seven years at Old Trafford, the exciting winger went through a rollercoaster of form, appearing unstoppable one week before completely disappearing in a game the next.
However, with a record of 40 goals an 73 assists in 230 appearances for Manchester United, it’s fair to say Nani still played a big part for the club under Sir Alex Ferguson, even if he never reached the heights of his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.
Then again, few have.
