30 May 2007, by Sean Gillen & Tom Kundert

Manchester United in Lisbon to seal Nani capture

Young wing sensation to join Ronaldo at Old Trafford

Sporting winger Nani looks to be on the verge of joining fellow Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, after delegations from both clubs held lengthy negotiations over the transfer this Wednesday morning.

United director David Gill, who handles the club’s transfers, met Sporting directors Miguel Ribeiro Telles and Carlos Freitas at a Lisbon hotel to discuss a deal with Nani’s agent Jorge Mendes.

Carlos Queiroz, United’s Portuguese assistant manager, was also at the meeting and was pictured leaving with Gill.

Although all at the meeting refused to comment on the situation, everyone concerned left in good spirits and it now seems likely that a deal will be struck that sees Nani move to Old Trafford, with a fee in the region of 15-20 million euros likely to be agreed.

The news comes just two days after Sporting president Filipe Soares Franco hinted that it would be very difficult to keep Nani at Alvalade.

It had been reported that the 20-year-old was set to ink a new contract with the Lions, but with the extension still not signed, it appears that Sporting will cash in on one of their prized assets.

Meanwhile, Portuguese paper A Bola has suggested that there could still be a possibility of United buying Nani and immediately loaning him back to Sporting for a further season.

PortuGOAL will bring news of any further developments throughout the afternoon.

Related: Nani video clips: Have Sporting fans seen the last of him?
Related: PortuGOAL Nani profile