Nine years on from his Manchester United exit, fan favourite Nani is still etching his name onto the scoresheet.
The Portuguese winger is remembered fondly by supporters for lighting up the Old Trafford pitch with outrageous skills and stylish tricks.
Nani scored 41 goals and assisted 70 times in a spell full of breathtaking moments and dazzling dribbles. There is an air of frustration that he perhaps didn’t live up to his lofty potential, but Nani still wrote his name into Manchester United’s history.
Signed from Sporting Lisbon by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2007, Nani spent eight years at Old Trafford before leaving under Louis van Gaal to join Fenerbahce.
He has kept a close relationship to the club since his exit and summer signing Leny Yoro even named Nani as one of his favourite players.
Nani scores first goal at new club
Nani left United at the age of 28 but his career suffered a fairly drastic drop off after his exit. The longest he has stayed at a club since leaving is the two years he spent at La Liga side Valencia between 2016 and 2018.
Nani recently joined the 10th club of his career after returning to Portugal to join top-flight outfit Estrela Amadora.
He has featured in all five of their league fixtures so far this season and netted his first goal for the club on Monday in a 2-2 draw with Boavista.
The 37-year-old rolled back the years, completing a fantastic turn just outside of the box before striking the ball low into the bottom corner.
Estrela are yet to win a game this season and currently find themselves in the relegation zone. Nani’s goal helped them secure just their second point of the season.
Nani’s time at Manchester United
The Red Devils splashed €25.5m on Nani back in 2007 and he arrived as a raw yet extremely exciting talent.
Sir Alex Ferguson gave the skillful Portuguese the freedom to express himself, and Nani flourished under the Scotsman.
Alongside fellow Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo, United had the most dynamic and dangerous wide players in the league with both possessing an incredible ability to not only beat a defender, but to leave them embarrassed.
That kind of flair has since been lost a little from football, although United’s young and exciting batch of wingers such as Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho also have the ability to get fans off their seats.
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