Nani Joins MLS Side Orlando City On Free Transfer

By Max Wise

Major League Soccer side Orlando City have signed former Manchester United winger Luis Nani on a free transfer ahead of the new season.

Nani spent the first half of the season at boyhood club Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, playing 18 Primeira Liga games with seven goals and four assists.

The 32-year-old Portuguese international has signed a three-year deal and will be presented at a press conference by Orlando City on Tuesday.

"This is an exciting day for our organisation," said Orlando executive vice-president of soccer operations Luiz Muzzi. "Nani brings tremendous experience to our roster.

"He's a dynamic winger with quality abilities to move and cross the ball, impact games and lead the offensive play."

Nani won four Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League during his eight seasons at Old Trafford, and he also made a total of 230 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils, scoring 40 goals and providing 73 assists.

Nani has turned out for Sporting Lisbon, Fenerbahce, Valencia and Lazio since leaving Manchester United in 2015.

"It is with a mixture of feelings that I leave the club of my heart," he wrote on Instagram.

"On the one hand, I'm excited to face another new challenge in my life, but on the other hand, I feel truly nostalgic about leaving a home that has given me so much. Sporting means everything to me.

"Sometimes life provides opportunities that are good for everyone. And this MLS tour is interesting for me and my family and very appealing to the club as well."    

Nani has been capped 112 times by the Portuguese national team and was an integral member of the side that won the European Championship in France in the summer of 2016.

Orlando City have failed to reach the play-off spot in the MLS since joining as an expansion side in 2015 with former Ballon d’or winner Kaka, their highest profile acquisition to date.