TEAMtalk's Jon Holmes believes Nani can inspire a
season of success for Manchester United - if he stays on his best
behaviour.
Nani would hardly be considered one of the Premier League's 'bad
boys' - in fact, it's hard to imagine him in a fight, even if his
love of Capoeira suggests he might be pretty handy at martial
arts.
But there is a less attractive side to the Portuguese winger's
style, and it manifests itself in the kind of episode which blotted
his copybook in Manchester United's recent 2-0 win over Tottenham
at Old Trafford. Call it gamesmanship or blatant cheating: no one
who truly loves football could encourage the kind of antics which
Nani is sometimes guilty of. Yes, many players try to push the
limits and see what they can get away with - but Nani often appears
a repeat offender.
Yet when he is fully focused on the job in hand - dismantling
full-backs with his speed of mind and body, taking part in slick
interplay passing which bamboozles opponents or firing home fierce
strikes across helpless goalkeepers - you have to just sit back and
admire the Cape Verde native.
And Nani looked at the peak of his powers against Blackburn on
Saturday, reducing Pascal Chimbonda to such a wreck that the
defender must have wished he could have whipped a transfer request
out of his sock again so he could escape any further
embarrassment.
So let's not allow Nani's hat-trick of assists to be completely
overshadowed by Dimitar Berbatov's five-goal haul. He now has nine
contributions to United goals in the league so far this season,
which shows he is emerging from a tough 12 months in which he was
expected to fill compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo's boots - a task that
came too soon, but which may not yet be completely beyond him.
Although Ronaldo is firmly in the 'world class' category, Nani -
who recently turned 24 - should be setting his sights on joining
the Real Madrid superstar among the game's elite. Secure at United
on a deal which ties him to the club until 2014, he now represents
good value at the £17.3million Sir Alex Ferguson paid Sporting
Lisbon for him just over three years ago.
Nani's talent has never been in question - only his application
of that ability, and the mentality which makes a skilful player
into a genuine inspiration for his team-mates. He's not there yet -
but his performance for United on Saturday suggests he can warm the
hearts of Red Devils fans this winter, and provide the spark for
silverware in spring.