Nani Career Stats, Facts & Profile

Nani Stats
Full Name	Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha
Birthplace	Praia, Cape Verde
Date of Birth	17/11/1986
Height	175cm (5ft 9ins)
Weight	66kg (145lbs)
Position	Winger
Squad Number	17
Leaugue Club Football
Club		Apps	Goals
Sporting CP (2005 - 07)		76	11
Manchester Utd (2007 -)		130	24
Total		206	35
International Football
Portugal U-21 (2006 -)		10	1
Portugal (2006-)		41	9

Early days at Sporting CP
Luis Carlso Almeida da Cunha or Nani as he is better known was born in Cape Verde, which is a group of island of the West coast of Africa. The player moved to Portugal with his family not long after he was born and that's where he learnt his footballing skills.

At the age of 13 Nani joined youth side Real de Massama and it was there where he was spotted by Sporting Lisbon scouts who took no time at all in persuading the Portuguese giants to snap the youngster up.

So at the age of 16 Nani was inducted into Sporting's impressive youth set-up and made his senior debut for the club just two years later. That season the winger went on to make 29 league appearances, scoring 4 goals in the process. The players impressive form started to make the scouts at Europe's leading clubs sit up and take note and after an impressive second full season, which included the player making a goalscoring debut for Portugal on 1 September 2006 in a 4-2 defeat by Denamrk. It was at this point that Manchester United former assistant manager Carlos Quieroz used his immense influence in his homeland to broker a deal to bring the Portuguse youngster to Old Trafford.

Manchester United career
On 6 June 2007 Nani signed for Manchester United in a deal thought to be worth £17m. The player made his debut for the club on the pre-season tour of Asia against Chinese Super League outfit Shenzhen Xiangxue Eisiti and bagged a goal in the process, with a fiercely struck 20 yard drive that left the goalkeeper with no hope. The strike gave the winger the chance to give United's fans their first look at his superb accrobatic celebration, which he perfected during years of studying the Brazilian martial art dance of capoeira.

Two months after he had signed for Manchester United Alex Ferguson handed the Portuguese winger his copmpetitive debut for the club when he brought the player on as a second half substitute in the Community Shield victory over Chelsea, with his Premier League debut coming a week later in the goaless draw against Reading on 12 August 2007.

After an impressive start to his Manchester United career Nani scored his first competitive goal for the club in 1-0 victory over Spurs. With game poised at 0-0 the player unleashed a dipping swerving shot form 35 yards out which fizzed passed Paul Robinson in the visitors goal, cue the celebration which sent the Old Trafford wild.

During his first season at the club Nani forced the manager to use him more often than was expected due to the player's great form as well as injuries to key players. During his debut campaign he made 41 appearances and scored 4 goals. More impressively he helped to club to a fantastic Champions League and F.A. Premier League double.

Nani Honours

Sporting
Portuguese Cup: 2007

Manchester United
FA Premier League: 2008
UEFA Champions League: 2008
FIFA Club World Cup

From Nani career stats, to Manchester United players
Manchester United football legends