Mueez Ajao
– Melbourne Victory have signed former Manchester United winger Nani for the 2022-23 A-League Men’s season.
– The 35-year-old spent eight years at Old Trafford, winning the 2008 UEFA Champions League title as well as four Premier League crowns and four FA Cups.
– Nani has made 112 appearances for Portugal and was a member of his country’s 2016 European Championship victory alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
Also Read: Andreas Pereira officially leaves Man Utd to join Fulham
He’s here! Welcome @luisnani!
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) July 12, 2022
– Most recently the veteran spent last season at Venezia in Italy’s Serie A, making 10 appearances in his solitary campaign with the Venice-based outfit.
Former Manchester United hero Nani signs for pre-season opponents Melbourne Victory #MUFC https://t.co/xirRPbbcmE
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) July 12, 2022
– “From what I have seen, the fans in Melbourne are not only the best in the league but they rival the atmosphere in Europe and I’m looking forward to being a part of that on the field in a Victory shirt and playing for them this season,” Nani said.
He's hungry and ready to give everything for Melbourne Victory. @luisnani
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) July 12, 2022
DO NOT ADJUST YOUR TV SETS 📺1️⃣7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/HZtlIN8KWy
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) July 12, 2022
Very happy to have joined @gomvfc! Really looking forward to this new adventure in Australia and working hard to help the club win titles. Let's go! 💙#mvfc #MelbourneVictory #NewChallenge #Australia #Aleague #BigV pic.twitter.com/KJJ0lWOnDO
— Nani (@luisnani) July 12, 2022
– Nani’s arrival comes a day after Victory announced New Zealand international Marco Rojas had left the club to pursue an overseas opportunity.
First of many walks up this tunnel. @luisnani pic.twitter.com/6iGytbuH13
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) July 12, 2022
– Nani is Victory’s seventh signing for the upcoming campaign, with former Socceroo Tomi Juric and goalkeeper Paul Izzo among those to have joined Tony Popovic’s team.
— Nani (@luisnani) July 12, 2022
– “We’re proud to be able to recruit a player like Nani to our club and believe he will be an incredible asset for Melbourne Victory and the entire A-League,” an excited Popovic said.
Our new #1️⃣7️⃣ @luisnani pic.twitter.com/n2eLaZOL0a
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) July 12, 2022
– The arrival of a storied player, even one in the tail end of his career, is a boost to the ALM competition after a 2021-22 campaign where crowd numbers plummeted.
– Australian Professional Leagues chief executive Danny Townsend said in May the competition wanted clubs to look at “sugar hit” marquee names in a bid to boost the league’s flagging profile.
– “I look at marquee players as ‘bums on seats’ players … marquees are genuine world class stars and our game needs it,” Townsend said at Western United’s pre-finals function.
– “It gets criticised historically as being a bit of a sugar hit — our game needs a sugar hit.”
