10 Players You Didn't Know Nearly Signed For Middlesbrough
5. Luis Nani
Where has the time gone for Luis Nani? It seems like only yesterday that the skilful and show-boating Portuguese winger was declaring that he could emulate Bernabeu-bound Cristiano Ronaldo. Of course, its five years since that declaration and he has been farmed out on loan to Sporting Lisbon, and the good money says that he wont be returning to join Louis van Gaals revolution at Old Trafford next season. Rated as one of the hottest prospects in Europe when Manchester United snapped him up in the summer of 2007, they had been locked in a battle with Spurs for his signature. What most dont know, however, is that Middlesbrough had the chance to sign him for £3.5 million the year before. Football agent Barry Silkman has recently revealed that he had offered the 19 year old Portuguese winger to Boro boss Gareth Southgate, but he wasnt interested.
''Recently the biggest one I have missed out on, I saw a player in Portugal a few years ago called Nani. I offered Nani to Middlesbrough and Gareth Southgate didnt fancy him. He was £3.5 million. He went to Manchester United for £17 million and it was only eight or nine months later, thats all it was. Manchester Uniteds chief executive David Gill actually phoned Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb to ask him if that story was true. And Keith Lamb said yeah it is. - Barry Silkman, March 2010.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
