Out-of-favour star may have to wait until summer to leave Old Trafford
Jan 7, 2010 6:00:00 PM
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Nani - Manchester United (Getty Images)
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Portuguese winger Nani is unlikely to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window, Goal.com UK understands.
Despite being linked to a series of European clubs after falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson, the 23-year-old's representatives have now set their sights on securing a transfer after the World Cup.
Mooted moves to AC Milan, Fiorentina and Benfica - who reportedly turned down the chance to take him in a cash-plus-player exchange deal with Angel Di Maria - have failed, leaving Nani fighting for his place at Old Trafford.
A source close to Nani's agent Jorge Mendes told Goal.com UK: "There are always links and stories about Nani, but I am sure that he will not leave Manchester United in January.
"In the summer? Maybe, after the World Cup. But, at the moment this would be too difficult and he will not leave Manchester. Any talk of a move will have to wait.
"He has not been offered to other clubs through his agent as this would be illegal and not moral without Manchester United's permission. For now, I am convinced he stays."
Nani has made just one first team appearance since November when he publicly criticised Sir Alex for dropping him from big matches and 'trashing' players when they have a bad match.
He started in the 3-1 win at Wolfsburg on 8 December, before injury curtailed his involvement over the festive period.
Nani moved to Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in 2007 for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £17 million.
Touted as the 'next Ronaldo' the pacy winger has struggled to fulfill his potential at the club.
His agent, Jorge Mendes, is rumoured to have had interest from clubs in Italy, Spain and his native Portugal and with the World Cup approaching the winger is desperate for first team football.
Portuguese pain | Nani has been frozen out
Goal.com Italy editor Carlo Garganese also cannot see Nani getting a fresh start in Italy this month. Decreased budgets and different priorities make him sceptical any move could happen.
“He [Nani] has been linked with [A.C.] Milan and Fiorentina. Milan vice president Adriano Galliani has said numerous times that Milan won't sign anyone else this month as they have already bought Beckham, [Dominic] Adiyiah and a young Ghanaian, 16-year-old Edmund Hottor,” he said.
“It is likely these statements are genuine, although Milan need, and Leonardo does want, to sign a player who can rotate with Ronaldinho and [Alexandre] Pato on the left and right of attack.
“Milan has very few alternatives for these positions if either Ronaldinho or Pato gets injured and it could cost Milan in the business end of the season. Nani can play both roles, so in some senses he is perfect, but I doubt it will happen.
“As for Fiorentina, they have already signed a centre back Felipe from Udinese, and their next priority this month is a centre midfielder as Cristiano Zanetti is always injured. Once they achieve this, I doubt they will have any money left over to buy Nani, nor am I sure they would meet his wage demands.”
With his options narrowing by the day, Nani looks like he will have to fight for a first team place at the Premier League champions amid stiff competition from the impressive Gabriel Obertan and Antonio Valencia.
With Ferguson's well known 'zero tolerance' policy on players that question his authority, he will have his work cut out.
Source: GOAL
I'm glad hes staying give him 1 more chance, I think he has it in himself somewhere just needs to get rid of arrogance
Jan 7, 2010 6:00:00 PM
Photo Gallery Zoom
Nani - Manchester United (Getty Images)
Related Links
Teams
Man Utd.
Players
Nani
Portuguese winger Nani is unlikely to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window, Goal.com UK understands.
Despite being linked to a series of European clubs after falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson, the 23-year-old's representatives have now set their sights on securing a transfer after the World Cup.
Mooted moves to AC Milan, Fiorentina and Benfica - who reportedly turned down the chance to take him in a cash-plus-player exchange deal with Angel Di Maria - have failed, leaving Nani fighting for his place at Old Trafford.
A source close to Nani's agent Jorge Mendes told Goal.com UK: "There are always links and stories about Nani, but I am sure that he will not leave Manchester United in January.
"In the summer? Maybe, after the World Cup. But, at the moment this would be too difficult and he will not leave Manchester. Any talk of a move will have to wait.
"He has not been offered to other clubs through his agent as this would be illegal and not moral without Manchester United's permission. For now, I am convinced he stays."
Nani has made just one first team appearance since November when he publicly criticised Sir Alex for dropping him from big matches and 'trashing' players when they have a bad match.
He started in the 3-1 win at Wolfsburg on 8 December, before injury curtailed his involvement over the festive period.
Nani moved to Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in 2007 for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £17 million.
Touted as the 'next Ronaldo' the pacy winger has struggled to fulfill his potential at the club.
His agent, Jorge Mendes, is rumoured to have had interest from clubs in Italy, Spain and his native Portugal and with the World Cup approaching the winger is desperate for first team football.
Portuguese pain | Nani has been frozen out
Goal.com Italy editor Carlo Garganese also cannot see Nani getting a fresh start in Italy this month. Decreased budgets and different priorities make him sceptical any move could happen.
“He [Nani] has been linked with [A.C.] Milan and Fiorentina. Milan vice president Adriano Galliani has said numerous times that Milan won't sign anyone else this month as they have already bought Beckham, [Dominic] Adiyiah and a young Ghanaian, 16-year-old Edmund Hottor,” he said.
“It is likely these statements are genuine, although Milan need, and Leonardo does want, to sign a player who can rotate with Ronaldinho and [Alexandre] Pato on the left and right of attack.
“Milan has very few alternatives for these positions if either Ronaldinho or Pato gets injured and it could cost Milan in the business end of the season. Nani can play both roles, so in some senses he is perfect, but I doubt it will happen.
“As for Fiorentina, they have already signed a centre back Felipe from Udinese, and their next priority this month is a centre midfielder as Cristiano Zanetti is always injured. Once they achieve this, I doubt they will have any money left over to buy Nani, nor am I sure they would meet his wage demands.”
With his options narrowing by the day, Nani looks like he will have to fight for a first team place at the Premier League champions amid stiff competition from the impressive Gabriel Obertan and Antonio Valencia.
With Ferguson's well known 'zero tolerance' policy on players that question his authority, he will have his work cut out.
Source: GOAL
I'm glad hes staying give him 1 more chance, I think he has it in himself somewhere just needs to get rid of arrogance