Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha (born 17 November 1986), commonly known as Nani, is a Portugal football player currently playing as a winger for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and national team Portugal. Although most of his right foot, he has used on the left wing on many occasions.
Nani was born in Cape Verde and emigrated to Europe with his family at an early age. He grew up in Portugal and started his football career playing for local side Massamá Real. At age 16, he began training with Sporting Clube de Portugal and SL Benfica on alternate days, eventually joining the Sporting youth squad after they offer pre-season training. In 2005, he made his professional debut with the club and won the Portuguese Cup for a second season with them. Nani SJPF named Young Player of the Month for May 2007 and culminated in his appearance with a move to Sporting English club Manchester United in July 2007 at a cost of € 25.5 million [. Nani won the Community Shield at competitive debut at the club and has since added a number of trophies including the Premier League and Champions League in his debut season at the club. He has established himself as first choice winger at Manchester United and has won more Premier League, Football League Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, Community Shield and the three titles. Individually, Nani had put in (PFA) of Professional Footballers' Association Team League Year on one occasion and was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2011.
Portugal international Nani as well. Before playing at senior level, he played under-21 level. He made the senior international debut in September 2006 in a friendly against Denmark and scored his first international goal during the 4-2 defeat in Copenhagen. Since his debut, he has made 52 appearances and scored 12 goals for Portugal.
Early life
Nani was born on 17 November 1986 in Praia, Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa. Nani emigrated with his family to Portugal at an early age. Nani was raised by his aunt Antonia in the Amadora district of Santa Filomena in Lisbon after being abandoned by his parents. At the age of five, his father left for a holiday in Cape Verde but never returned and when he was 12 years old his mother left Portugal to start a new life in the Netherlands. Nani has nine siblings from her mother, where he was the youngest, and five of his father. Nani got his nickname from his older brother at a young age .
Nani older brother taught him how to play football and he played with his childhood friend, midfielder Manuel Fernandes . Around age 14, older sister Nani took him to train with Real Massamá. They were the first club and Nani gave him money, food, and help him get ID cards and passports. At the age of 16, Nani was training on alternate days with Sporting and Benfica. Nani sometimes walk for miles to and from practice before the Sporting offering pre-season training. Despite growing in Lisbon, Porto powered Nani and his brother as a child and Luís Figo is a football hero.
