Former Real Madrid and Liverpool striker, Michael Owen has identified Nani as the former Manchester United star who was under-appreciated due to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Owen said that Nani might have felt being under Ronaldo’s shadow at Man United.
“There’s loads of players that were absolutely so talented and then probably didn’t ever (reach their potential),” Owen told Daily Star (via Manchester Evening News).
“And you know of players that were exceptionally talented and probably could have done even more. Someone like Nani at Manchester United, you talk to players and he came hot on the heels of Cristiano Ronaldo – possibly felt a little bit in his shadow. But the ability of that kid…”
Nani joined the Premier League giants from Sporting CP back in 2007.
He spent eight years at Old Trafford, winning plenty of trophies.
The Portuguese made 230 appearances for Man United, scoring 41 goals and registering 71 assists.
Nani was an excellent winger but he joined the Red Devils when his compatriot Ronaldo was arguably at his peak for the club.
However, Ronaldo eventually left Man United in 2009 to join Real Madrid.
The year Ronaldo departed, that was when Owen arrived at Man United from Newcastle United and the Englishman played with Nani at Old Trafford.