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The Purple Pitch

Nani's Retirement: A Personal Reflection

Jack Bell

Portuguese sensation Nani has announced his retirement from professional football. As a lifelong Manchester United fan and a (more recent) Orlando City follower, Nani has been a true icon for me.


With this news, I felt compelled to write about my experiences with Nani –  from joining United as youngster who only seemed to score worldies and celebrate by front-flipping more times than a Slinky, to building a legacy both within Europe and beyond. He is undoubtedly a football legend and one I consider to be a prominent household name for all Lions fans.


Yes, I know this news broke over a month ago, but I have had an extremely hectic festive period with moving back to the UK from Florida, settling back into my old life, reacquainting myself with friends and family, and searching for a new job – I have not had as much chance to write for this website. However, with the new year and the 2025 MLS season right around the corner, I will now dedicate more time to posting to The Purple Pitch.


Nani's acrobatic celebrations.
Nani's acrobatic celebrations.

From memory, Nani joined my beloved Manchester United right around the time I really started to get into football. A 19-year-old talent who followed the footsteps of fellow countryman Cristiano, Nani descended to Old Trafford after receiving much attention at Sporting Lisbon. Not knowing a lot about the man when he signed, I distinctly recall my brother telling me that ‘He’s scored again!’ during United’s preseason tour of China, then showing me his incredible acrobatic celebrations. For a young seven-year-old, this was entertainment in its purest form.

This excited me.


Despite struggling to break into the starting line-up in the early games of the season, a young Nani was given his chance at home to Tottenham. The game was dull, 90 minutes of sloppy, cautious football. Then out of nowhere, Nani received the ball, miles outside the box, and rifled one into the top corner in front of the Stretford End. My Dad and I screamed the house down. What a strike. So much power and accuracy from such a long range. And then there was that celebration – the first-time I saw it live. There were articles claiming that Sir Alex had told Nani not to celebrate in this way due to the risk of injury. But with a goal like that in your first month at the club, in front of The Theatre of Dreams … obviously you need a celebration to match.


That Spurs goal set the tone for Nani. Whether he was cutting in from the left or dribbling with pace on the right, defenders and goalkeepers would take a hopeless gulp, knowing exactly what he was capable of. I recall another time when United were playing Middlesbrough. My Dad and I were having lunch at a beach bar in Barbados. Nani cut in from the left flank and struck the ball from a position most players would not even consider. Yet again, the ball nestled into the top corner past a helpless keeper. With constant rumours of Ronaldo moving to Madrid, was this the boy who could fill those golden shoes?

Humiliating Arsenal
Humiliating Arsenal

As the years went on, Nani continued to improve. Unfortunately, injuries prevented him from consistently showcasing his full potential. But, when he was on form, much like his celebrations, he was flying. There are countless memories I have of Nani producing moments of insane, world-class, God-like brilliance: his step-over flick by the corner flag at the Emirates beating two players at once before dinking the ball into the net from the tightest of angles; his knuckle-ball shot from miles out beating Petr Cech in front of the Stretford End; his little chip over Spurs’ Gomes that improved our title charge; his incredible solo dribble around Joe Hart in the last minute of the Community Shield to beat City; his showboating keepy-uppies against Arsenal that really (really) seemed to p*ss off Justin Hoyte (it’s hilarious, watch it on YouTube if you haven’t already). As I said, there are countless.


It was a sad day when I saw that he had left United for his boyhood club Sporting, although I did think it was probably the correct decisions for all parties. More injuries left him frustrated and made it so difficult for him to get back into the squad as a regular starter. He no longer displayed that youthful flair he had once established. After the season on loan, we let both him and Robin Van Persie both go to Fenerbahce on a very cheap deal. Yet again, I was mortified. Two United greats that brought such excitement and strength to a title-winning side, gone.


Nani then went on to play for Valencia, Lazio and another spell with Sporting before venturing over to the Sunshine State in 2019. I always had plans to visit America and watch an MLS game, mainly due to the great players who had signed, many of whom I’d watched during my childhood, with Nani of course being my number one must-see. When I first moved to Orlando to study at UCF in 2021, I knew this was my opportunity to go see him play.

Nani's move Stateside
Nani's move Stateside

It was a midweek evening game at the Exploria against Montreal when I went to my first Orlando match. The game was dull, Orlando played poorly, and the most exciting thing that got the crowd riled up was the rocket in the sky leaving Cape Canaveral. Much to my dismay, Nani started on the bench, and I was desperate to see him take the field – it would be first time seeing him play in person since 2009!



Finally, in the second half, he gets subbed on. This is it! Within five minutes of being on the pitch he makes a clumsy tackle and receives a yellow card. When the Montreal defender went to take quick free-kick, Nani held his arm out and blocked the ball with his hand. Second yellow card. He was sent off within a matter of seconds. I was distraught! After all the anticipation, all of the build-up and excitement, he was sent to the changing rooms immediately! I still look back on that memory fondly, though – it is my own comedic story of the time I went to see Nani play after all those years … a bit of an anti-climax. Luckily, I did get to watch him play in purple several times after, including one game where I was at the front row of the Wall and he was only a few yards away.


Nani’s legacy lives on, and if it had not been for injuries, I believe he would be regarded as one of the all-time Premier League, MLS, and Portuguese greats. He brought entertainment to the game, something that very few footballers exert nowadays. He will be greatly missed in retirement.

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