Nani signed for Man United in 2007(Image credit: Manchester United via Getty Imag)Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterFour Four TwoGet the FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribedYour newsletter sign-up was successfulWant to add more newsletters?Five times a weekFourFourTwo DailyFantastic football content straight to your inbox! From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterNani signed for Manchester United from Sporting CP in 2007. Sometimes on the shy side, the 20-year-old was attracted in part by compatriots and Portuguese speakers already being at Old Trafford.Cristiano Ronaldo had made the same move from Lisbon and helped Nani to settle in England, where he would go on to win four Premier League titles and the Champions League.Sir Alex Ferguson was the architect of Nani's United successes. Now 39, the former Portugal winger recalls the impressive but welcoming nature of the Scot's Man United dressing room.You may likeHe'd often give me little warnings when I wasn't playing well Nani on playing under Manchester United icon Sir Alex FergusonPlaying with Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez at Manchester United was like a PlayStation game Nani on being part of the Red Devils all-action forward lineCristiano Ronaldo wasnt in his prime. You could feel the pressure when he came back to Manchester United the young guys would try to give him the ball even when it wasnt the right pass Nemanja Matic reveals what it was REALLY like to play with CR7Nani on signing for Manchester UnitedNani moved to the Premier League for a reported fee in the region of �17.5 million, a price tag that came with serious expectations even without taking into account the in-built competition with Ronaldo.The Lisbon-born future European Championship winner largely lived up to his billing even if many Red Devils supporters left feeling he could have had an even bigger impact. In all, Nani scored 40 times in 230 appearances in all competitions before returning to Sporting on loan in 2014.My agent, Jorge Mendes, presented me with the possibility of going to United, Nani tells FourFourTwo when asked about his switch to Manchester."He told me, I suppose to help convince me, that Cristiano [Ronaldo], Carlos Queiroz and other Portuguese were already there, and that Alex Ferguson really believed in young players. I didnt hesitate for long I told him I was interested.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over."Many clubs were interested in me. My agent told me about Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Chelsea There were stories in the newspapers every week, but I hadnt paid much attention to them I knew a lot of those things werent true."When I finally signed for Manchester United though, I realised the interest had been real. People from different clubs came up to me, saying, 'We were following you.'"United was the destination that made the most sense at the time and there's no doubt it proved a fulfilling move for Nani, who was quickly made to feel at home.You may likeHe'd often give me little warnings when I wasn't playing well Nani on playing under Manchester United icon Sir Alex FergusonPlaying with Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez at Manchester United was like a PlayStation game Nani on being part of the Red Devils all-action forward lineCristiano Ronaldo wasnt in his prime. You could feel the pressure when he came back to Manchester United the young guys would try to give him the ball even when it wasnt the right pass Nemanja Matic reveals what it was REALLY like to play with CR7"When I arrived, I was struck by the atmosphere in the dressing room so many stars with strong personalities, but also warm and welcoming people," the former winger tells FourFourTwo."That helped me to adapt enormously. The first people to greet me at United were Cristiano, who I already knew from the national team, as well as Anderson and Carlos Queiroz."It was easier to communicate with them as we all spoke Portuguese. During those first few days at the club I spent a lot of time with them, learning what life in Manchester was like, and I even spent some time living at Cristianos house."Nani went on to play in Portugal, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Australia and the USA. At the beginning of 2026, he came out of retirement to sign for Aktobe in Kazakhstan.TOPICSManchester UnitedSporting CPPremier LeagueChris NeeChris is a Warwickshire-based freelance writer, Editor-in-Chief of AVillaFan.com, author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Northern Premier League Midlands Division club Coventry Sphinx. With contributions fromDani Gil
