The Nani/Anderson Thread

Low down on Nani and Anderson

ANDERSON


Full name: Anderson Luis De Abreu Oliveira
Nationality: Brazilian
Age: 19 (Born: 13 April 1988)
Position Attacking midfielder
Fee: Reports vary between £15m and £20m

Still a teenager, the dreadlocked Brazilian has made a huge impact, is already in Brazil's national squad and is considered the heir apparent to Ronaldinho as his country's star player.

Born in the same town as Barcelona's buck-toothed wonder, Porte Alegre, Anderson also started his career at Gremio where he is held in high regard after scoring the goal that sent them back into the top flight in a brutal match against Nautico in 2005.

He moved to Europe later that year and made his Porto debut a little over 12 months ago in March 2006, helping the club land the Portuguese double.

This season his progress has been hampered by a fractured leg in October, but he returned to action to help Porto successfully defend their title.

BBC Sport columnist and south American football pundit Tim Vickery has described the strong, left-footed midfielder as having the acceleration of the Millennium Falcon.

And Manchester United have stolen a march on suitors such as Real Madrid and Chelsea to land a player many have already labelled as the long-term replacement for Old Trafford stalwart Paul Scholes.

Padayda's verdict: "He is very young, very skilled in the pass, very intelligent and very fast. Unfortunately, this season he had an injury that allowed him to play only half of the season, but he was still a very important figure at Porto. He could definitely go straight into the United first XI."

Anderson says: "I could not imagine I would ever get to work with a manager like Sir Alex Ferguson but it has happened. It is a dream the size of the world."

They say: "New players will show they deserve a chance to represent Brazil and we'll all see that as it happens. Anderson, like many other Brazilian players, is a valuable player and will get his chance in future for sure."
Brazil head coach Dunga

You say: "Anderson has the potential to be something special. When he's worth £30m on his own in two years this deal will look like a bargain."
EdWindchester on the 606 messageboards

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Did you know? He was named player of the tournament at the 2005 Under-17 World Cup. Previous winners of the award include Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle.


NANI


Full name: Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha
Nationality: Portuguese
Age: 20 (Born: 17 April 1986)
Position Attacking midfielder
Fee: Anything between £11.5m and £17m say the reports

Nani has long been linked with a move to Manchester United ever since he stated it would be a "dream" to play with Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Quieroz needed to move quickly when it became clear Tottenham were also stepping up their interest in the predominantly wide player.

Born on the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa, he came through the Sporting Academy, a route previously taken by Ronaldo and Luis Figo, once his family had upped sticks for Lisbon.

Having made his debut as an 18-year-old, Nani became a part of the first-team squad at the start of the 2005/06 season and soon got his chance to impress.

Since then the fleet-footed livewire, who celebrates goals with a back flip, has gone from strength to strength with club and country.

He scored on his first appearance for Portugal against Denmark in September and also caught the eye with a wonderful effort in the Champions League against Spartak Moscow this season.

Padayda's verdict: "He plays more or less in the same position of the pitch as Ronaldo does but he is not as fast. He had some problems this year at Sporting because he thought he was underpaid and wanted more money, but now he has a big contract. He will have to adapt to the English game and will need to wait a few months until he gets his chance."

Nani says: "The Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world and it will be a big challenge. I am prepared to go to England because I believe I will progress there."