Sports news > Football news > Nani in need: The Manchester United baby needs time to grow up
Nani in need: The Manchester United baby needs time to grow up
Cristiano Ronaldo isn't the only Portuguese wizard at Old Trafford – but the other one must learn from his compatriot to take his game to the next level.
by Jonathan Naylor on 05 May 2008
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This might not earn me the plaudits of many Manchester United fans, but I firmly believe that young Portuguese winger Nani is, following this season’s showing, the greediest player currently plying his trade in the Premier League. Like other youngsters at Old Trafford before him, he has been brought in raw and it has been exposed painfully. His quality is undoubted, but his immaturity is what currently separates him from the more established regulars at Old Trafford.
When Cristiano Ronaldo first donned the red shirt of United, he was written off as a ‘show pony’, a player who had skills but was all too ready to show them off. He frequently bombed down the touchline, the stepover his closest ally, and then failed to produce a quality cross to make his running worthwhile. From the same Sporting Lisbon academy, it seems that Nani is built in a similar mould.
The young winger’s natural talent is clear. He has exceptional skill with the ball at his feet and can produce rasping shots from range that find the top corner and change matches. However, alongside this talent, maturity and team awareness is needed desperately. Where it would be easier to lay off to a better placed team-mate, Nani will often attempt a mazy run or an ambitious strike that hinders more than it helps. This decision-making ability is crucial in every sport at every level and is what can make a merely good player a true great.
Unselfishness is paramount for a supplying winger, giving the ball to the strikers or swinging in a hanging cross and inviting an attacking header. However, as we have seen with his top-scoring compatriot, it is also necessary to know when the time is right to attempt a long-range shot or to take a defender on. Unfortunately for United and Nani at the moment, he has not gained this attribute yet.
Comments (6)
by hasmukh shah on May 05, 2008
Yes, I fully agree with your comments on Nani. I have hardly seen him pass a ball to a better positioned team mate or cross the ball in opponents danger area except may be when he takes a corner.His temperament was always in doubt judging by his reaction to tackles and he finally showed his true colours against West Ham.Man Utd has to groom him properly on this part of his game and let him know its a team game.
by issakk johnson on May 05, 2008
Manu fans what about Roy keane, Cantona,? even Wayne? this is part of his charater and should not be quashed. yes he will make mistakes, but to lambaste the player is wrong. he will learn. I said when he first came to the club he will be better than ronaldo and i still think that. in his first season at the club he speaks good english his goals and skills have lit up our team in stages eg. middlesborugh. he was responsibile for the great delivery at everton 1-0 sunderland 1-0 tottenham lyon ? he has had as much to contribute to this season as anyone. and remember all of this under the name tag of ronaldo part 2 not nani part 1 he made a mistake lets not re live it.
by georgio turbanhed on May 05, 2008
he's a good player but a bit of a dik unfortunately. still at least he didn't kick a women!
by Soccer Princess on May 06, 2008
days after this...all i could find were articles saying how immature and hotheaded he was....it is SUCH a relief to find an article talking about how this is just a part of his personality and that he really does posses a lot of potential. THANK YOU!
by The knower of all things on May 07, 2008
Tell me ONE just ONE player who IS MATURE??????????????????? C'mon C'mon you smart asses!!!!! the are all prima donnas!! and you all know that,what with their feigning and cheating and childlike antics they ALL bring the game week in week out into disrepute!!! so DON'T just DON'T singleout NANI.........ok ........I said OK!!!! have yous ALL got that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???
by gareth s. gate on May 09, 2008
i know a player who's mature, not a prima donna, never feigned an injury or thrown his hands up in the air childishly........RONALDO! admit it knower some are bigger cheats than others, it sort of rubs off on the good guys which is a shame.
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