United not looking to sell Nani
With Young signing a five-year contract with United, it has been suggested Nani’s time at the club is coming to an end.
Although the Portugal winger claimed more assists than anyone else in the Premier League last term, and was named United’s players’ player of the year, the return of Antonio Valencia from injury in March reduced his involvement.
Nani then failed to make Alex Ferguson’s starting line-up for last month’s Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, leading to fresh speculation about his future. If he indicated a desire to leave United in the wake of Young’s arrival from Aston Villa, there would be huge interest across Europe.
However, whilst the 24-year-old’s thoughts on the situation have not been aired, it’s understood he is still seen as a key member of the squad and will not be left go.
There will be casualties, and it is hard to see Sunderland targets Darron Gibson and Wes Brown remaining beyond the end of August. When his squad returns to training at the start of next month though, Ferguson will be assuring Nani of his position in the Scot’s plans for the future.
Ferguson has been the most active of the big-name managers so far this summer and his spending will go beyond £50m once the deal for Atletico Madrid keeper David de Gea is completed. De Gea is part of the Spain side that attempts to secure the European U21 Championships by beating Switzerland tonight, after which it is expected the remaining loose ends of his transfer will be tied up.
One of the clubs Nani had been linked with is Inter Milan and yesterday Inter confirmed Gian Piero Gasperini will be the club’s new manager next season. The 53-year-old Gasperini will take over from Leonardo,
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti, who is abroad on business, has welcomed Gasperini’s selection. Moratti said: “I am fully satisfied with the choice. I wish Gasperini all the success that have taken Inter to become Club World champions.”
Gasperini will become Inter’s fourth coach in one year, following the departure of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid, the dismissal of Rafael Benitez back in December and Leonardo’s imminent move to PSG. Gasperini led Genoa to promotion from the second division in 2007 and qualification for the Europa League with a fifth-place finish in Serie A in 2009.
He was sacked by Genoa in November.
Gasperini was just one of the numerous candidates that Inter had targeted since announcing Leonardo could leave the club earlier this month, despite being under contract with the Nerazzurri for a further season.
Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa turned down a move to Inter while Sinisa Mihajlovic has opted to remain at Fiorentina. Inter had considered former Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas as a possible candidate but later ruled him out due to the Portuguese’s €15m release fee.
Villas-Boas joined Chelsea earlier this week.
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