Cristiano Ronaldo was in red-hot form at Manchester United, but stunned the world by making a decision to leave the club in 2009. Nani was seen as the ideal heir to the Portuguese superstar, and he has now commented on the pressure he faced at Old Trafford.
Nani Comments on Replacing Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United
Ronaldo’s exit to Real Madrid for a then-world-record $109 million (then £80 million) saw a huge void left at Man United. Sir Alex Ferguson had brought in Nani in 2007, and the winger was seen as someone who could step up at the club.
The Portuguese star did not just have to replicate Ronaldo’s numbers, but also fit into the trio that was dominating the Premier League at the time. He had to gel with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney and ensure that it was smooth sailing on the pitch.
Nani had the talent, without a doubt, but failed to live up to expectations. He spoke to Four Four Two this week about his time at Old Trafford, admitting that he played with the trio.
The former Orlando City star added that they spent a lot of time together off the pitch, and that made it easier for them to adapt on the pitch. The winger added that he never felt the pressure of replacing Ronaldo, as he was confident in himself and the players trusted him, which helped him do well at Old Trafford.
“Pressure, when you understand it properly, becomes responsibility. I was confident I could be a player capable of helping to compensate for Cristiano’s absence. I think that belief, together with the commitment I showed, was what allowed me to have such strong seasons at United.”
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However, he believes that injuries limited his success, though he is happy with how his career with the Red Devils panned out. He said: “Unfortunately, some injuries limited my performances, but overall I consider my time at the club to have been very good. The trust of my team-mates and the coaching staff was also key in making the post-Cristiano era a positive one.”
Nani won the Premier League four times with Manchester United, one UEFA Champions League title, and two League Cups during his time at the club.
