Former Manchester United and Portugal international, commonly known as Nani, is reportedly on the verge of sealing a move to the land down under by joining four-time A-League championship winners Melbourne Victory – another household name joining the competition.
The A-League has played host to many talents from across the globe – albeit most of them making the move to Australia towards the end of their careers – since its formulation back in 2005.
The narrative certainly does not change for the 35-year-old winger who last played in Italy’s Serie A last season for eventually relegated outfit Venezia.
Nani has achieved so much during his playing career which has seen him claim 12 major honours at Manchester United as well as four titles during his different spells at Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon.
People will remember the famous Euro 2016 final when Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo got injured and had to be replaced during the first-half, which then led Nani taking the armband from Ronaldo to lead his men to one of the most dramatic European Championship final triumphs in history.
Victory fans will be hopeful he can bring his title-winning experience to Australia, but also his acrobatic-type goal celebrations that football fans have fell in love with throughout his career and you only need to go to YouTube to find what I am talking about.
(Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
While you are busy surfing the internet for his goal celebrations, you can also see some of the amazing goals the European Championship winner has scored – particularly at Manchester United.
One favourite would be his scintillating goal at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal in the 2009-10 campaign, where he dribbled past three players before he dinked the ball over the keeper from a difficult angle.
Aside from his success on the pitch and athletic theatrics, the Portuguese wideman has very fast feet and a dash of pace that is sure to cause any defender in our country problems.
The four-time Premier League winner brings a wealth of global experience along with him as he has plyed his trade in America, England, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey.
His arrival raises questions about where on the pitch Victory coach Tony Popovic will use him. He has featured predominantly on either the left or right flank given his ability to cut inside, attack down the touchline and being able to produce thunderous shots from long range, which will offer the team some dynamism in attacking areas.
It is important to note that the A-League will benefit from a marketing perspective with someone of Nani’s stature in world football from different perspectives.
First off, it will help with shirt sales across the competition given the hype and excitement attached with his name. Secondly, it will help raise crowd attendance numbers as the competition has found it difficult to attract fans in stadiums since its transition out of the COVID pandemic.
Lastly, you can be sure that broadcast viewership numbers will also increase.
Whether he stays in Australia beyond the upcoming campaign or not, the prospect of seeing another European star in the A-League is something the league and all fans will not take for granted.
We all know that former Liverpool player Daniel Sturridge did not enjoy a successful stint in his one season at the Perth Glory most recently and Australian football fans will certainly hope an instance like that is not repeated.
Nani’s style of play and experience playing across some of the best leagues in the world will prove to be a valuable asset as the Victory seek their first A-League title since 2017-18, and look to defend their Australian Cup crown.
How do you think Nani will do in the A-League for the Melbourne Victory?
Where does his arrival rank among some of the other blockbuster moves in Australia?
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
For sure, it seems a sure-fire way to growing the league.
Michael Djordjieski
Roar Pro
I’d like to see more of a balance between these older players coming to the A-League towards the end of their careers and the produce of local Australian talent. I think the development of young players in Australia hasn’t been good for a long time and that needs to change going forward. For me, there are some big differences between the 06 Socceroos team compared to now.
Michael Djordjieski
Roar Pro
All he has to do is score at least one goal! :laughing:
M20
Guest
Can't be any worse than Sturridge
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
They keep on coming, Charlie Austin and now Nani. Yes, there will be a brief increase in shirt sales and probably eyeballs but in the grand scheme of things, what will this do for the league? Not much. For me, in traditionally non-football countries, the way to go is to recruit young players and build up good academies, not just chucking cash at some over-3os looking for one last big pay day.
Michael Djordjieski
Roar Pro
Nani is no doubt the more fitter and better athlete of the two, however, I don't think he will be able to emulate what Del Piero did on the pitch for Sydney FC. I really hope Nani can have a positive impact in the A-League and prove people wrong.
Garry
Roar Rookie
I think he might be better than Del P. on the field FOR the team..as a Sydney FC fan I was sitting in line with his superb free kick and his talent was obvious BUT he was a draught horse around the field. Nani appears fitter. And whilst not the superstar like Del P. he is linked to Man U as another pointed out and as a Man U fan/member Im disappointed he’s not heading to Sydney.
Garry
Roar Rookie
July Football Festival..the ads seem to be building now
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Exactly, and if Victory get Nani on the books, watch the media go mental over it, simply because of the words, 'former Manchester United"
Beach
Roar Rookie
IMHO this is exactly the kind of signing our clubs should NOT be making. He's washed up here only when of no use in more lucrative leagues. The A league is no more than Nanis last squeeze of an exhausted lemon.
Coastyboi
Guest
Del Piero‘a involvement in the A-League was a master stroke.
AGO74
Guest
In the last 3 years he's scored almost 30 goals in 80 appearances (impressive for a winger) before spending the last six months making 10 appearances at a Serie A club (albeit a club that was relegated). That's a pretty decent form line. Not seeing flashbacks of Mario Jardel when I see that form line.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
he will 'flop' based purely on how many goals and assists people will expect from him due to his multi million dollar contract - he also wont bring additional people to matches (he doesn't have the pull of say a, del piero) victory as a club is a bad fit for him, solely because of popovic's mega defensive philosophy i'd expect jason geria to run the most amount of miles of any player next season, because he'll be behind nani at right back covering him defensively lol
Michael Djordjieski
Roar Pro
Marquee signings is exactly what the A-League needs and has to continue to produce. I think Nani can definitely bring something different that we haven't seen much of before.
Michael Djordjieski
Roar Pro
I always like seeing these types of signings in the A-League as it gives it some more exposure and it's good for the game - regardless of what age they come into the league.
Michael Djordjieski
Roar Pro
Good point you raise about Nani's lack of defensive capabilities. I'm very interested to see how he gets on in the A-League - hopefully he doesn't completely flop.
Michael Djordjieski
Roar Pro
I agree with you in regards to Nani won't be able to generate the same kind of media attention Del Piero did. Nevertheless, I hope he has a strong impact on the pitch.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
He turns 36 early in the new A-League season. That's still younger than what Del Piero was when he arrived, who was pretty good on and off the pitch. Can Nani be as good as Del Piero on the pitch, yes, I think so. Can he generate the same media and public interest? No, not by a long shot, best to tone down those expectations.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Only here for a pension check, trust me this old man does not have the goods anymore. Typical ALM signing though.
Franko
Guest
Take a breath brainstrust. Hopefully they will ramp it up late-September and in to October. - October ALM - November World Cup Its then through summer/school holidays Dec-Jan we should be expecting to see BigBash style fixturing and marketing, make of that what you will.