Nani: 'I was close to Juve in 2014'

By Football Italia staff

Nani revealed he was on the verge of joining Juventus in 2014. “Everything was done, then at the last minute, Manchester United decided they no longer wanted to make the deal.”

Nani joined Manchester United from Sporting CP in 2007, but was about to join The Old Lady seven years later.

“After I renewed my contract in 2013 I got injured, but despite the fact that a lot of offers arrived for me, the club thought that with the new contract I would stay,” Nani told Portuguese website Tribuna Expresso.

“Other players were playing, even the kids. At that point I thought about it and I said to the club that I really had to leave.

“Whilst recovering from my injury, I agreed to go to Juventus. It was all done. Juve wanted me, United had said yes, and the coach had given his ok.

“And then at the last minute, with the market practically closed, United decided that they no longer wanted to make the deal and they wouldn’t let me go.”

Nani also reveals that United never gave him an answer as to why they axed the Juve deal.

“I asked them why, and the only reply they gave was, 'you have to stay here.' I was angry about how things had been done, but I felt they wanted to keep me because I was important for the club.

“Then Louis Van Gaal came, who spoke to me and said that he wanted to make changes.

“As soon as I had the opportunity, I went back to Sporting.”

Nani would eventually make it to Italy three years later, playing a single season for Lazio on loan from Valencia in 2017-18.

However, he failed to make an impact and was sent back to Spain. He now plays for Orlando City in MLS.

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