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15 June 2007, by Sean Gillen
Portuguese stars tip Nani to thrive in the Premiership
Fernandes and Veloso: "Winger to succeed at Old Trafford"
Manuel Fernandes and Miguel Veloso have backed Portuguese international colleague Nani to be a big success with new club Manchester United.
The winger agreed a five-year deal at Old Trafford last month after the Premiership champions paid 25 million euros to Sporting, and he has the full backing of childhood friend Fernandes.
“Nani has always had a lot of talent, even when we were growing up and played in the streets together,” said Fernandes after Portugal’s U21 match with Holland on Wednesday.
“Nani isn’t the new Ronaldo. One is Ronaldo, the other is Nani. A lot of pressure has been put on to Nani in comparisons with Ronaldo but he must be left to do his own thing. He is very strong and that is why a team like Manchester United wanted him.”
“Of course, Cristiano inspires us all; he is one of the best in the world. I wouldn’t say I was impressed with the way he handled himself after the World Cup because I already knew all about his mental strength.”
“That has helped him become the player he is now so I am not surprised. He has always been like that - not only physically strong, but mentally strong too. I believe Nani has these qualities but only time will tell.”
Meanwhile, Veloso, who was a team-mate of Nani’s last season at Sporting, says the 20-year-old has the quality to match the impact made by Ronaldo with the Red Devils in the coming years.
“Manchester United have the example with Cristiano where he had time to develop,” said Veloso. “We are thinking the same will happen with Nani, because that is the way the United coaches work, giving him time to adapt.”
“Although both play on the wings, Nani has more characteristics of coming from the outside to the inside. Both have good characters and will continue to grow as players with time. I am sure Nani will develop his qualities to be as good a player.”
Your Say: How will Nani fare in the Premiership? Leave your opinion using the form below.
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01/12/2007 20:40
nani should of stayed with sporting it would of been better for him o well quaresma most likely wont be leaving porto just yet neither moutinho
27/06/2007 20:10
Billy London - yeah, only two European Cup titles, how shameful - and i'm not even a united fan!
20/06/2007 12:24
Personally Nani is going 2 b great there.Clubs in England give the players a name. PLus it is better for players like Nani, Joao Moutinho and Quaremsa to move from Portugal clubs because our clubs aren't the very best in the world.
19/06/2007 08:48
Iam Sporting Fan, and Nani is going to do great i hope at Man utd, with his speed and Ronaldo his help, they are going to do fine and terror the whole football world.
18/06/2007 17:30
Nani has the pace and ability to be great in the premiership. I think with ferguson's tutelage he'll become one of the best.
18/06/2007 13:51
I am a Porto fan and consequently, I worship at the altar of Jose Mourinho so my preferred team in England is Chelsea. That being said, United have set themselves up for success FOR THE NEXT DECADE! They have built an offensive force around Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. I think Chelsea will find it difficult to win again in the coming years.
17/06/2007 12:34
Somewhat unsurprisingly all but one of the comments on this thread written by United 'fans' appear to originate from outside what would commonly be known as Manchester's catchment area. I often wonder how many of these 'fans' would be on this message board if United dropped into the championship (something I hope and pray for most days). Oh the joys of being a glory fan.
16/06/2007 00:19
Nani will do well under Queiroz and Ferguson. Both of them know how to man manage and bring real quality from young players. Although I think Nani will take at least a season to adapt.
15/06/2007 20:57
united can dominate europe for the next 5yrs if we get Torres this season, maybe even moutino(sporting) plys just lik scholes
15/06/2007 15:27
I think that it was a very good idea for Nani to move to Manchester. Look at C.Ronaldo he moved to Manchester when he was 18 and now hes one of the best player in the world. The same can happen for Nani. Just give him 1 or 2 years and he'll be one of the best. Forca Nani
15/06/2007 14:15
I think Nani shuld have stayed at Sporting for two more years. He would learn more playing every game for Sporting than sitting on the substitutes bench at Manchester.
15/06/2007 14:12
I feel certain a Portuguese will win the Champions Leage next season. We have chances with Porto Sporting Benfica Man Uted Chelsea Inter Barcelona Lyon PSV. Almost all top teams have one or at times more Portuguese player...
15/06/2007 14:07
After this year's mauling in the semi-finals the purchase of Nangi is a last-gasp attempt to breathe life into the rotting corpse of United's recent European campaigns.
15/06/2007 14:03
Man Utd have always been pioneers: 1st English team to win the European Champions Cup and 1st again to win the Champions League. After a period of functional, attritional and ugly football the Champions league looks set to be dominated by the beautiful game once more. Let's just hope the final is contested between actual national champions this year.
15/06/2007 13:56
I imagine Ferguson is hoping Nangi will boost United's chances in Europe - where they're still level with Nottingham Forest, embarrassingly.
15/06/2007 13:55
Great player, great club. Manchester United look set to dominate European football for many years to come with their incredibly shrewd policy of buying young talent. This can only be good for the game.
15/06/2007 13:46
Ronaldo and Nani are going certainly be very difficult for defenders to stop of other Premership team. Nani going to England also is good for Portugal to become still more strong and maybe win the euro2008. Forca Portugal!