I think it’s fair to say that Nani hasn’t really fulfilled his potential since he moved to Manchester United from Sporting CP back in 2007. He’s now had six years at Old Trafford but has failed to stamp his mark on the team.
But let’s give him his due: he did have one good season. Cast your mind back to 2011, when he racked up an impressive number of assists and was a nominee for the PFA Young Player of the Year. The following season, however, he failed to re-capture his form and he’s been on the slide ever since.
He may have done better than Anderson (who Manchester United signed at the same time), but there’s no doubt that he could offer more. Last year he only managed to make 21 appearances. This year, he has only made 10 appearances (thus far). Then there’s all the injuries that he’s had to deal with. At the moment, he’s nursing a hamstrung injury and may struggle to win his place back in the side when he returns from convalescence.
Of course, it hasn’t helped that there has been so much speculation regarding his future. Whilst Sir Alex Ferguson was still at the club, he made it more-or-less clear that he wasn’t a fan of the Portuguese winger. Thus far, we’ve seen no evidence to suggest that David Moyes appreciates him either.
This has led to plenty of speculation regarding his future. Indeed, The Mirror even claim that Juventus are keen to pull off an £18m January deal for Nani.
The first thing that strikes me about this story is that £18m is a lot of money for a player who hasn’t achieved very much over the last couple of years. It’s also worth noting that at 27-years-old, Nani can only rely on his pace for another three or four seasons. Yes, Manchester United spent £22m on Nani back in 2007, but things have changed since then.
If this offer really is on the table, then Manchester United should bite off Juventus’ hand. £18m could fund a move for a player who can actually contribute to The Red Devil’s cause.
There is one condition attached to the deal: Nani has to prove his fitness before the end of the January transfer window. I’ll certainly have my fingers crossed in the hope that he’s capable of doing so.
What’s your take? Should David Moyes put Nani out to pasture?
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