Nani, who turns 23 today, needs to toughen up mentally if he wants to make the grade at United.
When Nani broke into the Sporting CP first-team he was seen as the next big thing to come out of Portugal, after Cristiano Ronaldo that is. After his big move to Manchester United he has lived in the shadow of his more glorified countryman.
His start at new surroundings was good. He scored in the pre-season and it didn’t take very long to get on the score sheet in the Premier League, a beautiful 30 yard strike against Tottenham. Thanks to that and his trademark capoeira styled goal celebrations he quickly found a way into the Red Devis’ faithfuls hearts. It was a good season with a 4 goal return from 41 appearances.
He started his sophomore season at United well enough, but it quickly turned sour with the winger, who’s full name is Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha, falling behind in the pecking order to his less fashionable team-mates. He improved on his goal tally with 6 goals, but in total he only managed 31 appearances, 13 in the league with only 7 of them from the starting line-up. Sir Alex Ferguson clearly felt Nani wasn’t quite ready for a more active role and that also started to disappoint the fans, as £17m for a substitute is way too much.
A lot of United fans have turned against him as whenever he gets a chance to showcase his skills, he often disappoints. There were hopes that with Cristiano Ronaldo leaving, Nani would be ready to make a step up and fill the FIFA World Player of the Year 2008 boots, but with extra competition arriving in Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan, these hopes are fading fast, as the new signings have looked more ready to play for United, than Nani ever has.
Expectations might a little too high, but only the best is wanted from the players, who wear the famous red shirt. Nani and Ronaldo aren’t as similar players as people make them out to be and it might be a huge reason why Nani will never make it as a Manchester United regular.
Talent wise the players are quite equal, but what’s sets them apart, some might even say worlds apart, is the mental aspects. As we all remember Cristiano Ronaldo also struggled in his first season at United, but he quickly learned and adapted to play in the Premier League. Yeah, he fell to the ground often and complained to the officials, but he always got up in the end and got on with the game.
Determination is what Nani lacks. He doesn’t have that programmed to his mental system, to go and try again and again even if he does end up getting hurt. Sir Alex Ferguson was a avid complainer of the referees on the subject that Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t getting enough protection from the referees, and with a reason, but the player himself never complained and sucked it up with ease. Nani doesn’t have that. There’s a foolproof way to get Nani out of a game. Just give him a few pops during a football match and you are assured the talented winger won’t cause any trouble for your team.
Nani, who turns 23 today, needs to toughen up mentally if he wants to make the grade at United. Maybe a hint or two about the mental side of the game, instead of dribbling skills, from the more successful countryman would help.
The winger, who only seems to score spectacular goals, has a big learning curve ahead of him. Time will tell if United’s management has the patience to wait, or will he have to look for a new team in a more suited league next summer.
Not good enough as simple as that. Next summer i’d happily see Man U ship Nani out and make a move for Ashley Young, Young is a far better prospect than Nani, more direct, will chip in with goals and good from set pieces. Ashley Young I’d consider to be a long term replacement for Giggs on the left hand side.
gary, nani is a far superior player to young. only diffrence between the two is that young has played nearly every week for the past 2/3 seasons. nani hasnt been afforded that privelleg. how can anyone expect him to be a seasond performer when his development has been so badly stunted?? admittedly this season he’s dissapointed but in truth the way he has been man managed has been poor to say the least. he was made to feel like an outsider last season for no good reason. he lost an entire season practically.now ronnys gone everyone expects him to be a superstar….maybe if he actully played last season he cud have actually stepped up to the plate!? that being the case,how can we expect him to improve his game???
sice CQ left us Nani has been treated poorly. il accept that his attitude may appear to be not the best but i strongly feel its just a result of him feelin unwanted/ insecure. ronaldo was able to get on with it all no problems as he clearly had the full support of the gaffer. nani’s confidence has been shot to fuck. simple as that.
i for one still believ in the boy 100% though
just hope he comes good whilst hes still at united not at another european giant. theres no doubting mind you that hed find it easier in spain/ italy, but still, i keep the faith.
in a fucked up way im wanting fergie to finally retire so we can get Mourinho in. i know he’d have a positive affect on the lad….never mind the rest of the talented youngsters we have. dont get me wrong i love Sir alex to death but his blind love for giggs and schoiles is really fuckin me off now. its clear to see these two aint up to it any longer, ESP in the big games. its these two (legends) who are preventing Nani….& anderson from developing their games in the way that our team needs. how long does fergie think the old boys can go on for??
I think Nani has just booked his passage out of OT with his reported comments in the media in the last few days. He’s been a frustrating player in many ways but I agree with much of what united4life says.
I think he’s a confidence player and he’s had no chance to build that confidence. That said, I’ve also frequently agreed with Gary….not good enough.
I hoped he’d be given his chance this season and step out of the shadow of Ronaldo but, despite a couple of good games, he’s failed to convince. How can he though when he’s in 1 game out the next?
I’ve been caught in two minds but more recently I think I’ve come to a decision! Couldn’t agree more with united4life on Giggs and especially Scohles. Analyse United’s midfield selections this season and their results.
There’s now no doubt in my mind that Fletcher, Carrick and Anderson with 1 other (Valentia, sometimes Giggs, possibly Oberton) are far and away our best midfield and the endless variation and rotation is costing us points.
Believing this, I don’t any longer have time for Nani to ‘come good’ and think we should cash in. Fergie needs to play his best ‘centre 4′ if United are to have any chance of 4 in a row….and Nani is no longer in the equation for me.
Interestingly, Ryan Babel at Liverpool is 23 in December and has close parallels with Nani in terms of his progress since he moved to Anfield. Both are the same age, both moved to the Pl at the same time and both are regulars in their national squads, but both have failed to make the grade in the PL.
I still have this nagging feeling though that Nani could come good. Maybe fate has determined that it will be somewhere other than OT.
History shows though that if a winger hasn’t ‘arrived’ at the top level by 23 then he’s unlikely to.
I believe in Nani go on Nani Sir alex is taking the mic dont worry about the haters espcially united fans! Nani is the best
It’s easy to say toughen up mentally, but it must be incresing pressure when even those who are supposed to support you, groan and mutter every tine you kick the ball.
I personally think Nani is one of the most gifted fotballers in Europe. He’s far superior to Young without a doubt. But nobody seems to take into consideration that while Young is prancing up and down the wing – match in, match out – Nani’s confidence seems shattered to the brink of no return.
All he seems to need is help with his decision making from his coaches, the MU fans to CHEER him instead of JEERING him and a good run of games.
Did anyone also look-upon the fact that Valencia has one foot? Nani can’t switch wings anymore to make anything happen. He perfers the right, I think.
My major problem with Nani is that yes he has skills and explosive shot but how HOW many times have we seen him beat a guy then chip a cross in behind everyone or hit the 1st defender, all too often for me.
I know its probably wrong to compare him to Ronaldo, but when ronaldo signed he was a show pony, yet he played every game, but he progressively got better and better into the player he is today, i see no difference in Nani now than when he signed. He gets his chances, i think he’s had enough chances, Fergie obviously doesnt see the progression of his play in training every day to give him a real sustained time in the team. Sometimes players just don’t make full use of their potential, I feel Nani thinks he’s a good player, which he is, but he doesn’t have the mentality to work on the fine points of his game to become exceptional which again he has the potential to do, i just think he’s had enough chances to do so and hasn’t.
I never said Young would be the be all and end all of the left hand side, but i think Man U who were a team that always had a very British core are leaning away from that slightly. Obviously if there is another outstanding left winger out there I’d happily take him but i just feel Young is more than capable of making full use of a move to Utd and his end product is better than Nani’s.
But I do agree that there is certainly an over dependancy on Scholes, Giggs still seems to perform in big games but there needs to be certain faith put into the other midfielders. I just wish Hargreaves a speedy and most importantly full recovery, he will be like a new signing again!!
Nani has helped throughtout Ronaldo missed a penality in the champions leauge final and Nani scored
Is that a reason why you believe that nationality rather then ability or mentality affects your performance on the field?
its professional football nd millions of pounds go into it.there is no place for emotion.i m a utd fan & i say- if nani can play well & earn his place in the side he stays.if not he’ll be replaced by a new player.
i feel nani has got talent but lacks temperement.playes with himself & does’nt look to pass the ball.he is not a team man.