Celtic are 6/1 second favourites to bring Nani back to Britain from Valencia this summer – but would the former Manchester United star be worth the money?
Nani was a serial trophy winner at Manchester United
There are few more divisive players in European football than Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha – otherwise known as Nani.
Either a stylish, FIFA Street footballer with the ability to produce the spectacular out of very little or an overrated, infuriating one-trick pony left choking on Cristiano Ronaldo’s dust, the former Manchester United winger continues to polarise opinion even at the age of 30.
Therefore, you can expect a mixed response to BetVictor rating Celtic as 6/1 second favourites behind Ligue 1 champions Monaco to sign Nani this summer.
The fact that the 2016 European champion only signed a three-year contract at Valencia last summer, and is likely to be on wages far higher than any Celtic player, means a deal would take quite some serious negotiating.
However, if Celtic were to take the plunge, their risk could reap bountiful rewards. Nani was nowhere near his best in a crisis-ridden Valencia side last season but still produced five goals and seven assists while his outstanding performances for Portugal on French soil 12 months ago so not be so quickly forgotten.
Whisper it, but he overshadowed even CR7 on occasions.
And if Brendan Rodgers has set Celtic the challenge of remaining in the Champions League after Christmas for the first time since 2013, who better than a man who lifted Ol’ Big Ears itself nine years ago?
Nani scored in the penalty shootout to beat Chelsea in the 2008 final
After all, Nani may be the living, breathing antonym of ‘consistency’ but the one swish of his right boot could make the difference between one point or three in Europe’s premiere club competition.
And if Scott Sinclair was a revelation in green and white, just imagine the trail Nani could blaze in Scottish football.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
