MLS: Nani looking for new home, but not a retirement one
Former Manchester United star Nani reportedly wants to find a home in MLS, despite the league’s protestations that this is not a retirement home.
Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha, or Nani, now plays for Lisbon-based Sporting CP in Primeira Liga. Major League Soccer brass insist the league has transitioned from a retirement system for declining great players. But this wouldn’t apply to this 32-year-old, predominately right-footed Portuguese striker, who is reportedly wanting a move to North America.
The left-winger serves as captain of his Lisbon squad but he gained renown playing the same spot for Manchester United from 2007-2015. There he played in 230 matches, scoring 40 goals and recording 73 assists.
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So far this season in Portugal, he’s played 16 games. He’s scored seven goals with three assists.
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In that span, he has averaged just under two shots per game and more than one aerial won. He keeps it physical, average 1.5 tackles and he’s skilled, with just under two key passes per game and averaging 32.7 passes in total, 83% of them successful.
At age 32, all the desired skills of young players get demonstrated solidly by Nani every game. He is missing no tools and can blaze a fiery trail across every MLS pitch if a team picks him up. Scouts rate him strong in passing, key passes, through balls and long shots. His style of play looks exciting to fans but isn’t just for show. He’s effective.
He likes to cut inside, do layoffs and is dangerous on his dribbles. He has posted most of his success this season on the left wing, but one of his assists came as an attacking midfielder. So he’s flexible without sacrificing much.
Lineup for Portugal's Sporting CP pic.twitter.com/g647TQjAHx
— Chuck Wharton (@chuckx777) January 29, 2019
He’s only been back with Sporting CP since July. There, he’s worked from a 4-3-3 formation, offensive scheme.
Nani made his professional debut in 2005 with Sporting CP’s youth team. Sensational events happened quickly, one after the other. Nani got named Young Player of the Month for the Professional Football Players Syndicate (SJPF) in May 2007. That year, with the youth squad he won the Portuguese Club.
The momentum continued, carrying Nani fast and far in 2007. Sporting CP took a transfer fee and sent him to Manchester United. He and Man. Utd won three Premier League titles, a Football League Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup and three Community Shield titles. He was named to one Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Premier League Team of the Year and was a nominee for 2011 PFA Young Player of the Year.
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He’s not numbered among the young players anymore. Yet the sensational momentum can begin driving Nani again. Coming soon, an MLS team will make the deal and bring Nani to their squad. Get your All-Star ballots ready. Or will it just be a visit to the retirement home instead?