Four-time Premier League champion Nani has announced his retirement from professional football aged 38.
the first Manchester United and the Portuguese striker enjoyed a glittering career, racking up more than 700 appearances for club and country while collecting a host of major trophies. Forever associated with his compatriot and United teammate Cristiano RonaldoNani forged his own path at Old Trafford.
A winger with an endless bag of tricks, the former Sporting CP striker also boasted an end product. Nani accumulated nine goals and 14 Premier League assist when he was voted United’s Player of the Season as the club won their second most recent top-flight title in 2010/11.
“The time has come to say goodbye, I have decided to end my career as a professional player,” Nani wrote in social networks on sunday night
“It’s been an amazing journey and I wanted to thank all the people who have helped and supported me through the ups and downs during a career that spanned over 20 years and gave me so many unforgettable memories. with new goals and dreams . See you soon!”
Nani signed his post with the word “Thank you” in five different languages, reflecting the traveling conclusion of his career. After leaving United in the summer of 2014, Nani played for eight different clubs in six countries over the next nine years.
Although his club career never quite matched the domestic and continental dominance he enjoyed at United, Nani played a starring role in Portugal’s triumph at Euro 2016. Alongside Ronaldo, the striker was the top scorer of his country as the obstinate Fernando Santos. team lifted Portugal’s first major trophy.
following spells at Fenerbahce, Valencia, Lazio, Orlando City, Venice and Melbourne Victory, the 38-year-old reached the end of his one-year deal at Turkish side Adana Demirspor last summer. Nani was briefly out of business before returning to the Portuguese top flight with Estrela.
As he struggled through the 20th season of his professional career, Nani managed to make nine La Liga appearances and even scored in a 2-2 draw with Boavista in September. The veteran’s last professional appearance turned out to be a 5-1 loss to the club that first nurtured his prodigious talent, Sporting CP.
