Melbourne Victory confirm the signing of former Manchester United star Nani
The A-League will be graced by the presence of a former Manchester United star who won four English Premier League titles.
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Even if it’s just for “five minutes”, new Melbourne Victory signing Nani has promised he will be ready to take on his former club Manchester United at the MCG on Friday night.
The Victory on Tuesday confirmed the 35-year-old attacker, who made 112 appearances for Portugal’s national team between 2006 and 2017, has signed a two-season deal with the A-League club.
The winner of four English Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League crown with United, Nani would love the chance to play some part in Friday night’s match.
But he will leave that decision up to Victory coach Tony Popovic.
“As a player, I always want to play, so if he (Popovic) gives me five minutes, I will be ready,” Nani said.
“I would like to ... but I’ve just arrived in the country, it’s a long flight, there are a lot of things to do to prepare. The body must be ready to compete
“Once you’re in the game you want to give 100 per cent. The fans and everyone is expecting me to be able to perform with all my quality.”
Popovic gave Victory fans some hope of a Nani cameo on Friday night.
“First we have to see whether he’s cleared, whether all the paperwork can be done (in time), so that he is available,” Popovic said.
“Then we’ve got to put health first, make sure that he’s healthy and over jet lag, and able to train and play, but if everything is possible, we’d love to give him some time out there.”
Beyond Friday night’s match, Nani said the “challenge” of lifting the standard of the Victory, the A-League and young Australian talent excited him.
“I’m a person who likes to have a lot of challenges in my career. In the past couple of years that’s what I’ve been doing,” he said.
Apart from United, Nani’s club career has included stints with Sporting CP (Portugal), Fenerbahce (Turkey), Valencia (Spain), Lazio (Italy), Orlando City (USA) and Venezia (Italy).
“There are a lot of reasons for me to be here, and I hope I can help the league and the club to achieve all their goals ... try to bring more quality to the league and more experience, and try to help the young talent improve their quality and the mentality as well,” he said.
Popovic said Nani – arguably the highest-profile player to sign with an A-League club since Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero’s Sydney FC stint – had a “special pedigree that has been very rarely seen in this country”.
“First and foremost, that’s what we’re bringing, a wonderful football player, a player that loves to excite and entertain,” the Victory coach said.
“He brings the ability to have the final pass, to have a shot, set pieces, (he) can score goals ... and then bring along an ambition of wanting to continue to win and he obviously has achieved a lot throughout his career.
“That can help all of our players, players that haven’t won titles before haven’t won trophies before. He can help them understand what it takes to be the best.
“It’s an opportunity for us as a league ... and obviously Melbourne Victory.
“We have to play our part to make the league grow and put on a fantastic product out there on the pitch.”
Originally published as Melbourne Victory confirm the signing of former Manchester United star Nani
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