Speaking to Sport.co.uk, Silkman said that the winger was offered to the then Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate for a lot less than was paid for him eight months later.
Silkman said: “Recently, the biggest one I have missed out on, I saw a player in Portugal a few years ago called Nani.”
“I tried to do a deal with Middlesbrough who I was very close to at the time; I did a lot of deals when Steve McClaren was manager.”
“I offered Nani to Middlesbrough and Gareth Southgate didn’t fancy him. He was £3.5million.”
“He went to Manchester United for $27million and it was only eight or nine months later, that’s all it was.”
“Manchester United’s 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.”
There is a massive difference in the price, it shocked me a bit when I first read it. Maybe you would expect a 1 or 2 million pound difference but not a £13.5 difference in only eight months. Sporting Lisbon must have been laughing all the way to the bank after that.
Nani hasn’t always been in the best of form since arriving at Old Trafford. He hadn’t hit any form until earlier this year, after recovering from an injury. After returning to the team he had a run of three or four matches where he had been fantastic, but then he was stupidly sent off against Aston Villa when he was in top form. Since returning from the three-match ban we have seen glimpses of what we had seen earlier on this year but he has become a bit frustrating again.
We have seen what he is capable of and I am sure that Sir Alex Ferguson will get the best out of him and hopefully he can continue it.
"He went to Manchester United for $27million..."
£ 17 mill actually..
The figure is correct. $27m would roughly equate to 17m pounds. Just shows how much mark up we at United have to pay for players who are half-decent. I was one of his detractors earlier this season, but his performance at Arsenal did change my mind. As we are now playing with two wingers in games it is nice to see him getting a run in the team. We're going for goals and getting them and he's creating. Great stuff.
It is a big mark up and to say that it is a shame that we have to do that is an understatment.
It is great to see Nani get a run in the side, there is no doubting his quality and I think he could have a fantastic season for United next season. He could be one of our main men.
I still feel his best position is on the right. If he plays on the left and create chances which he did for 2 match now. I will be pleased with him. Look at how many chances he created from his crossing in the first half against Fulham, you could be amazed at how accurate he is.
Well to be very honest ,none has always been a flop.This is attributed to his being someone else which he cant be. He wants to be a Christiano Ronaldo.He doesnt know that to be appreciated you do not necessarily have to score.Look at wat he is doing now,he creates chances and at least many of Rooney's goals have a contribution from Nani somewhere.He has only to do away with selfishness.Just to be himself.
MULINDWA UTHMAN