Nani turned down an offer from a European club, ex-Sporting star says no | OneFootball

Aktobe, the emblematic Kazakh club that competed in the Conference League pre-qualifiers, offered Nani the opportunity to return to professional football. Nevertheless, the player chose to decline the offer, maintaining his decision to step away from football at the highest level for good.

Nani has closed the door on a return, having formally communicated his decision to the Kazakh club. The player's refusal highlights the clarity of his intentions and the priority he places on stepping away from the pitch, keeping only an indirect and family-related connection to the sport.

The former Portuguese international ended his career at the start of last season, after ten matches for Estrela da Amadora. Among his remarkable achievements are 112 appearances for the national team and winning the Euro 2016 title. Thus, Nani leaves behind a solid career with historic impact both nationally and internationally, remaining a reference for young players and Sporting fans alike.

Nani's nephew, Leonardo Varela, has been standing out in Sporting’s under-17 team. In 13 official matches totaling 887 minutes, the creative midfielder has scored three goals, two of which came in recent games against Académica and Torreense.

Nani had three separate spells at Sporting: the first between 2005 and 2007, the second in the 2014/2015 season, and the third and final in 2018/2019. The Alcochete academy graduate scored 33 goals in 141 matches for the Lions, winning three Portuguese Cups and one League Cup.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.