Nani joins Venezia FC

Venezia FC are pleased to announce the acquisition of Nani on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer. The 35-year-old Portuguese star attacker has signed a contract through the 2022/23 season.

Nani — full name Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha — is one of the most talented wingers of his generation, famed for his pace, trickery, and spectacular goals. His career honors include the 2016 UEFA European Championship with Portugal, the 2018 UEFA Champions League and four English Premier League titles (2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 20012/13) with Manchester United, and three Taça de Portugal (2006/07, 2014/15, 2018/19) and one Taça da Liga (2018/19) with Sporting CP.

After rising to prominence at Sporting, Nani moved to United at age 19, and he would spend the next seven seasons at Old Trafford, registering 41 goals and 73 assists in 230 matches across all competitions. His best season was arguably the 2010/11 season, scoring 10 goals and winning the Players’ Player of the Year award, as United captured the Premier League and reached the Champions League final.

Nani returned to Sporting on loan in 2014/15, and eventually moved on to play for Fenerbahçe, Valencia, and Lazio, before returning to Sporting for a triumphant third stint at his hometown club in 2018/19 — scoring seven goals in the league, one goal in the cup, and the deciding penalty to win the league cup, before leaving mid-season to join Orlando City on a Designated Player contract.

In three seasons with Orlando, Nani recorded 28 goals and 23 assists in 77 total appearances, and was named an MLS All-Star in 2019 and 2021.

At international level, Nani scored 24 goals in 112 appearances for Portugal, and participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2008, 2012 and 2016 UEFA European Championships — scoring three goals at the latter tournament, including one in the semi-finals, and playing all 120 minutes of the final against France, as Portugal won their first-ever European Championship.

Welcome, Nani.