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Former Manchester United winger signs for club in Kazakhstan – a year after retiring

Nani will play for FC Aktobe next season

Nani has come out of retirement and signed a one-year deal with Kazakh club FC Aktobe.

The former Portugal international hung up his boots in the middle of last season after contributing just one goal in 522 minutes of action for Amadora in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

But the 39-year-old has been persuaded to sign a 12-month deal with Aktobe which will combine playing and increasing the profile of the club.

“I am very happy to have joined FC Aktobe and I look forward to contributing to the development of the club and football in Kazakhstan,” Nani said at his presentation. “I am very impressed with the club’s vision for the future and I will work hard to take us to new heights, at home and abroad!”

I’m very happy to have joined FC Aktobe and I am looking forward to contributing to the development of the club and football in Kazakhstan. I would like to thank the owner of the club Mr. Nurlan Artykbaev, chairman Mr. Arman Ospanov and Governor Mr. Askhat Shakharov for their… pic.twitter.com/MNfZi31wKU

Nomadic Nani only settled at Manchester United

Nani has enjoyed a glittering career after emerging from the Sporting CP youth system.

Following a similar path to Cristiano Ronaldo, he left Sporting for Manchester United in 2007 and enjoyed eight years at Old Trafford, winning the Premier League four times and the 2008 Champions League.

He had a nomadic spell after leaving United with stints at Fenerbahce, Valencia, Lazio, Orlando City, Venezia, Melbourne Victory and Adana Demirispor before joining Amadora.

Nani won 112 caps for Portugal, playing a starring role as they won the European Championship in 2016.

Aktobe finished fifth in the last Kazakh domestic season, 16 points behind title winners Kairat Almaty, who play Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Topics:

• FC Aktobe

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Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events.

Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events.

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