Full name: Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha

Position: Forward

Date of Birth: 17 November 1986

Birthplace: Praia, Cape Verde

Manchester United winger Nani is the latest outstanding talent to be plucked from Sporting’s seemingly endless conveyor belt of world-class wide players. The same system that produced Luis Figo, Simao, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma appears to have unearthed another sensation capable of attaining the heights of such exalted company.

Nani was brought up in the poor Lisbon suburb of Amadora. A complicated family background saw him being raised by an aunt and he used football as a release from his turbulent childhood.

Too poor to afford the bus or train fair, he walked three miles to train day after day, or fare-dodged his way to his local club, Massama, on the outskirts of Lisbon, earning himself a sharp ticking off from the police on one occasion.

His big break came when he was spotted by Sporting scouts who were so impressed they quickly made sure he joined the club’s famed youth academy and, as they say, the rest is history and a happy one at that.

His speed, strength and trickery led many to compare him with Cristiano Ronaldo, and like his Manchester United teammate, Nani has the added bonus of having a keen eye for goal. He is equally at home on either flank.

He broke into the first team at 18 years of age, and made an immediate impression with his dazzling footwork and extreme speed, scoring 6 goals in his debut season.

Trademark celebration

Smooth Premiership transition

Nani’s debut season at the Theatre of Dreams was an unqualified success. He arrived amidst fierce competition for a first team place, having initially been pencilled in by boss Alex Ferguson as understudy to Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, spectacular long-range goals against Tottenham and Middlesbrough and further strikes against rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as countless assists, came in a season in which Nani racked up 37 appearances as the Red Devils won a Premiership and Champions League double.

by Tom Kundert & Sean Gillen (last updated 05/08/2008)