Nani

By Chris O'Brien
December 2 2021

Former Manchester United winger Nani turned 35 last month - but, having continued to terrorise defences some six years after leaving the Red Devils, where did his career take him after departing Old Trafford; and what is next for the winger?

Nani spent eight years as a Manchester United player - winning four Premier League titles and a Champions League crown.

He was also at United as the club won the League Cup twice, the World Club Cup and four Community Shields, during a successful and silverware-laden spell.

The Portugease star made 229 appearances following a £25.5million move from Sporting Lisbon - scoring 40 goals.

However, less than two years after signing a five-year deal with the club in 2013, Nani was sold to Turkish side Fenerbahce for £4.25million - and began his journey in football beyond United.

The writing had already been on the wall for Nani - having spent his last season with the club out on loan at former employers Sporting Libson, as part of the deal which saw Marcos Rojo come to the North West of England.

His last appearance was his only game for United in the 2014/15 campaign - appearing from the bench for 45 minutes as Louis van Gaal lost his first game in charge in a shock 2-1 reverse at the hands of Swansea City.

So - what came next for Nani after his permanent move away under van Gaal?

The move to Turkey paired Nani in an exciting partnership with fellow former Red Robin van Persie. He was a constant feature for the Super Lig side - making 47 appearances, including 28 league games, six Turkish Cup appearances and 13 European outings - scoring a total of 12 goals.

After winning Euro 2016 with Porgual, where he captained his country in the final, he moved to Valencia in La Liga for a reported £7.2 million. He made 26 appearances that season, scoring on five occasions, amid hamstring and muscular problems. Nevertheless, Nani shook off his injury problems to help Portugal secure third spot in the Confederations Cup.

He would miss the start of the 2017/18 season with a knee injury - and was soon loaned to Lazio for the season, where he would make 25 appearances - scoring three goals with three assists.

Nani would then return to Lisbon for a third spell in the summer of 2018 - and would remain in Portugal until February, before a switch to North America, making 28 appearances for the Lions, hitting nine goals.

A switch to Major League Soccer came with Nani aged 32 and was regarded as a big coup for the league. Luiz Muzzi, of his new club Orlando City, labelled it an "exciting day" for the team and hailed Nani's "tremendous experience" of the "dynamic winger". He joined as one of the club's 'Designated Players' - meaning he was signed outside of the MLS' salary cap for the franchise.

He played a key role for Orlando - another club nicknamed The Lions - and notching up 88 appearances for the team; who finished runners-up in the 2020 'MLS is Back' competition. His tally of goals is 31, with 18 assists was impressive, and included Nani captaining the club in its first ever play-off matches and in that 'MLS is Back' final.

However, it was announced this week that Orlando had opted not to extend Nani's contract - meaning the player, more than six years since leaving United, is now a free agent. The 35-year-old stated that "all good things come to an end" - and it remains to be seen whether he will seek to extend a 16-year professional playing career; or hang up his boots once and for all.

Nani won 12 trophies at United - and as the club have struggled for silverware in recent years, the player's contribution to the club's history is, if anything, perhaps a little underappreciated. Since his last appearance for the Red Devils under van Gaal, Nani's contribution has been significant - making 214 appearances at club level and scoring 60 goals; while winning major honours with his country too. A fine career, regardless of what comes next.

Nani, after Manchester United: