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From Scrapheap To Superstar - Nani Finally Raises His Game For Manchester United
Winger's breakthrough comes just weeks after being offered to Benfica
| Bet: | Returns: | Ajax £34.00 | Draw £33.00 | Man Utd. £20.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Ajax £33.00 | Draw £34.00 | Man Utd. £19.10 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Ajax £34.00 | Draw £33.00 | Man Utd. £20.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Ajax £36.00 | Draw £35.00 | Man Utd. £20.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Ajax £35.50 | Draw £32.00 | Man Utd. £19.70 |
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Feb 1, 2010 1:00:00 PM
By Matt Monaghan
Nani’s New Year transformation from infuriating wannabe poised for the exit door to world class winger has taken Manchester United by surprise.
At the start of the month, the odds on him winning the man of the match honours at Arsenal wouldn’t have been much lower than on Elvis Presley returning to do the same thing. Instead of starring for United, a move to Portuguese heavyweights Benfica as a makeweight in Angel Di Maria’s deal seemed a likely scenario.
A remarkable turnaround in fortunes in the last week has seen potential finally turn in to reality. After tearing Hull City apart, he continued to twist and turn Manchester City’s hapless Javier Garrido.
The icing on the cake came on Sunday. French international Gael Clichy was made to look like a pub player with no answer to Nani’s craft and industry.
For years to come, fans will talk of the sublime ‘chop’ he produced to break through the barricade put up by Clichy and Samir Nasri to force in the opener.
A sprint up the pitch and perfectly-weighted pass to Wayne Rooney followed to set up United’s second goal.
Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to heap praise on his renaissance man. He said: "The boy [Nani] has come back. He had an injury and he's been freshened up and his last three games have been first class and today was his best.
"Maturity is one thing as he's 23 now, he's a very shy boy there's no question about that.
"It's a question of getting stronger and better to deal with playing for us every week. And today is an example of that maturity."
The Scottish supremo had certainly washed his hands of less embryonic talents before after any breach of club discipline.
Nani was never going to have an easy start to his United career. Following in the footsteps of fellow Sporting Lisbon alumnus Cristiano Ronaldo was an almost impossible task.
Yesterday, though, there were signs that he could make a similar impact on proceedings. Last season, Ronaldo was on hand to tear apart Arsenal at the Emirates with a moment of inspiration and lung-busting charge on goal.
History repeated itself with a different Portuguese international dealing out the misery to the Gunners.
Acrimony with Ferguson seemed to have been the making of Nani. The threat of a forced return to the city in which his professional career began - and a switch to his favoured right wing - has re-ignited his Premier League stay,
Ronaldo’s shadow still looms large over the ‘Theatre of Dreams,’ but Nani now has the inspiration to craft his own legacy.
At the start of the month, the odds on him winning the man of the match honours at Arsenal wouldn’t have been much lower than on Elvis Presley returning to do the same thing. Instead of starring for United, a move to Portuguese heavyweights Benfica as a makeweight in Angel Di Maria’s deal seemed a likely scenario.
A remarkable turnaround in fortunes in the last week has seen potential finally turn in to reality. After tearing Hull City apart, he continued to twist and turn Manchester City’s hapless Javier Garrido.
The icing on the cake came on Sunday. French international Gael Clichy was made to look like a pub player with no answer to Nani’s craft and industry.
For years to come, fans will talk of the sublime ‘chop’ he produced to break through the barricade put up by Clichy and Samir Nasri to force in the opener.
A sprint up the pitch and perfectly-weighted pass to Wayne Rooney followed to set up United’s second goal.
Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to heap praise on his renaissance man. He said: "The boy [Nani] has come back. He had an injury and he's been freshened up and his last three games have been first class and today was his best.
"Maturity is one thing as he's 23 now, he's a very shy boy there's no question about that.
"It's a question of getting stronger and better to deal with playing for us every week. And today is an example of that maturity."
Who's the Nani? | Winger gets a pat on the back
The Scottish supremo had certainly washed his hands of less embryonic talents before after any breach of club discipline.
Nani was never going to have an easy start to his United career. Following in the footsteps of fellow Sporting Lisbon alumnus Cristiano Ronaldo was an almost impossible task.
Yesterday, though, there were signs that he could make a similar impact on proceedings. Last season, Ronaldo was on hand to tear apart Arsenal at the Emirates with a moment of inspiration and lung-busting charge on goal.
History repeated itself with a different Portuguese international dealing out the misery to the Gunners.
Acrimony with Ferguson seemed to have been the making of Nani. The threat of a forced return to the city in which his professional career began - and a switch to his favoured right wing - has re-ignited his Premier League stay,
Ronaldo’s shadow still looms large over the ‘Theatre of Dreams,’ but Nani now has the inspiration to craft his own legacy.
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