Posted by Michael Owen, a former striker for Real Madrid and Liverpool, has named Nani as the former Manchester United player who was overlooked because of Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to Owen, Nani may have sensed a shadow of Ronaldo at Manchester United.
Owen said to the Daily Star (via Manchester Evening News) that “there’s loads of players that were absolutely so talented and then probably didn’t (reach their potential).”
“And you are aware of athletes who possessed extraordinary talent and perhaps even greater potential. Talking to players at Manchester United, someone like Nani followed closely behind Cristiano Ronaldo and may have felt a little bit in his shadow. But that child’s abilities…
Nani left Sporting CP to join the Premier League’s biggest teams back in 2007.
He was a trophy winner for eight years at Old Trafford.
With 230 games for Man United, the Portuguese player recorded 71 assists and 41 goals.
Although Nani was a superb winger, he signed with the Red Devils at a time when fellow countryman Ronaldo was possibly at the top of his game.
But in the end, Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid in 2009 after leaving Manchester United.
Owen joined Man United from Newcastle United in the same year that Ronaldo left, and the Englishman played with Nani at Old Trafford.