Nani has heaped praise on incoming Chelsea signing Geovany Quenda and admits he wishes the Sporting Lisbon winger was heading to Manchester United.
Chelsea spent over £40m to sign the 17-year-old star following his breakthrough season for Portuguese giants Sporting.
Quenda will spend next season on loan at Sporting before linking up with his new club before the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
The Portugal U21 international was naturally linked with Manchester United after Ruben Amorim, who gave him his professional debut, left Sporting to take over the Premier League giants.
United were said to be interested in signing Quenda this summer but Chelsea quickly swooped in to secure his signature last month.
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‘There is a kid at Sporting, Quenda, who is 17 years old and he is unbelievable,’ Nani told A Bola.
‘He has energy, he has speed, he can improve his physical ability, but he is a very intelligent player. Very mature.
‘He knows how to play as part of a team, when he should calm down and speed up the game.
‘Of course he can improve his finishing and be more consistent, because he also shoots very well, knows how to dribble, he’s skinny, but he’s a fantastic player and has the right attitude.’
Asked if he felt Manchester United had ‘missed out’ on Quenda, the ex-Old Trafford star added: ‘I think so.
‘There are no players like him at 17. Why did Chelsea sign him? Because they know that.
‘It’s difficult to have this type of player who is aggressive with the ball, taking the game forward and creating danger in the box.
‘And when he sees that there is no space to take risks, he knows how to calm down and play with the team. He really is a fantastic player.’
Sporting defender Ivan Fresneda recently delivered his verdict on incoming Chelsea signing Quenda.
‘I have a very good relationship with Quenda, I’m 20 and he’s 17. Because of our age, we also have that relationship,’ he told FlashScore.
‘I was surprised [by his rapid rise], of course. All you have to do is watch the training sessions, stay here for a week and see what that kid does, you’d go mad.
‘Chelsea’s interest doesn’t surprise anyone at the club. Quenda is going to be big in the future. This season, next season and from now on. He’s going to be something to talk about.’
Sporting assistant manager Tiago Teixeira has also spoke glowingly of Quenda, who has already played in the Champions League and looks set to help his club win the league title.
‘He is very, very good as a dribbler. He is impressive physically and can beat his direct opponent both inside and outside,’ Sporting assistant he told The Athletic.
‘I see similarities with Lamine Yamal. Both of them started playing senior football at 16, 17.
‘Yamal is already playing for Spain but Quenda has just been called up by Portugal for the first time and I’m certain he’s going to be a regular in the national team for years to come, and a star of the Champions League.
‘He will get better with age and keep growing in confidence. He has everything he needs.’
As part of their deal for Quenda, Chelsea also agreed to sign Dario Essugo from Sporting Lisbon for almost £20m.
Essugo, 20, will move to Stamford Bridge in the summer after spending this season on loan at La Liga side Las Palmas.
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