17. Nani

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Birthdate:	17 Nov 1986
Birthplace:	Cape Verde, Africa
Position:	Winger
Appearances:	19
Joined United:	01 Jul 2007
United Debut:	05 Aug 2007 v Chelsea (N)
International	Portugal

Highly rated Portuguese winger Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha ("Nani") will aim to emulate the achievements of compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo when he starts his Old Trafford career in earnest.

Nani officially joined United in July 2007 for an undisclosed fee from Sporting Lisbon after being tracked for some time by Sir Alex Ferguson and his scouting staff.

After making his Sporting Lisbon debut at the age of 18, Nani featured 29 times in the league for Sporting in 2006-07, scoring five times. During his time at Sporting he also featured in the Champions League before winning the 2007 Portuguese Cup.


He played for Portugal during the European Under 21 Championship in Holland during the 2007 close season. The Cape Verde Islands born player also earned five caps for the senior side prior to his move to United, scoring on his debut against Denmark in September 2006.

Primarily a left sided player, Nani can also play in numerous other attacking positions.

There are obvious similarities between Ronaldo and Nani. And Nani is tipped to match the standards of 2006-07's PFA Player of the Year.

"He (Nani) is an amazing player, he's an amazing kid as well, he works very hard and has got a big heart," said Portuguese Under 21 team mate Ricardo Vaz Te. "He got a gift from god which is his talent obviously."

Portugal assistant coach Paulo Sousa is another who is backing Nani to be successful in England. "Nani is very explosive and very strong. He's fast and is going to be a great signing for United," he said. "I think that in the next five or 10 years, he and Cristiano Ronaldo can become the best players in the world."

Nani's move to Old Trafford undoubtedly had something to do with assistant boss Carlos Queiroz. Quieroz is credited with

helping Ronaldo settle and improve his game, and he is expected to help out Nani too.

Ronaldo has also promised to help Nani. “I really hope he has the same success as me, or even more, because he’s got the ability to do this," he said. "He’s joining the right club to evolve as a player and as a person.”

Nani is also famed in Portugal for a trademark goal celebration. His back flips graced the pages of the Portuguese tabloids while at Sporting, and United fans will be looking forward to seeing such celebrations many times during the coming seasons.

reference: http://www.manutd.com

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

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Birthdate:	05 Feb 1985
Birthplace:	Madeira
Position:	Winger
Appearances:	208
Joined United:	12 Aug 2003
United Debut:	16 Aug 2003 v Bolton (H)
International	Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo has just about exhausted all superlatives, except to say that having developed and matured from a young and inexperienced winger when he joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, he's now among the best and most dynamic attacking forces in the world.

Signed as a largely unknown 18-year-old for £12.24m, the story goes that Sir Alex was persuaded to sign him by his players on the plane home from a pre-season friendly against Sporting that summer. In truth, the boss had long been aware of his ability. The urgency to sign him stemmed from interest from other top European clubs. This was a target Sir Alex simply

couldn’t let slip through the net.

Ronaldo wasted little time in showing off his sublime skills with a stunning 30-minute debut against Bolton at Old Trafford in August 2003. After 39 appearances and eight goals – including the opener in the FA Cup final win over Millwall – he was named the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for 2003/04. His second season never quite lived up to his first. But some late season form saw him end the 2004/05 campaign with nine goals in 50 appearances. In 2005/06 Ronny again reserved his best form for the latter half of the season, a clear sign that, despite his undoubted talent, this was a player still honing his talent.
Then came the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, a truly defining moment. In the quarter finals against England, Cristiano was blamed for Wayne Rooney’s sending off, the scapegoat for England’s exit. Some wondered if he would even return to Manchester. But Sir Alex’s calming words assured him. After all, it’d happened before with Eric Cantona in 1995 and David Beckham in 1998. The best players respond to adversity, and he did just that.

United’s title success was undoubtedly a team effort, but one player was central to almost every major plotline. It began with the barnstorming

5-1 win over Fulham – Ronaldo and Rooney running the show and very publicly rubbishing claims the two were at odds. Dazzling wing-play was backed with regular assists and crucial goals, including seven in five games over Christmas and then a last-gasp winner against Fulham in February.

His form brought renewed interest from Spain, but United’s No.7 signed a new five-year deal until 2012 insisting, “I’m happy here.” In 2006/07 he claimed 14 individual awards and, most crucially, his first Premiership medal. The soundtrack to Cristiano’s campaign may have begun with a chorus of boos, but it ended with cacophonous applause.

reference: http://www.manutd.com

33. Chris Eagles

irthdate:	19 Nov 1985
Birthplace:	Hemel Hempstead, England
Position:	Winger
Joined United:	08 Jul 2002
United Debut:	28/10/2003 v Leeds United (a)
International

With excellent dribbling skills, impressive control and a vicious shot, Chris Eagles is rightly held in high esteem by many at Old Trafford.

The young right-sided midfielder caught the eye of fans as soon as he was given his first taste of first-team action - a 3-2 Carling Cup win at Leeds in 2003. Eagles was, at that time, a reserve team regular and in the following season, 2004/05, he helped the second string to collect a quadruple of trophies.

However, Eagles had to be patient for his Premiership breakthrough. With competition for senior midfield places forever fierce, Sir Alex

Ferguson sent the London-born youngster out on loan. He gained good experience of life below the top flight with Watford and Sheffield Wednesday and also had a stint on loan with Dutch Eridivisie side NEC Nijmegen in Holland.

After spending the best part of two years away from Old Trafford, Eagles started to forge his way into the first-team reckoning in the run-in to the 2006/07 title. The squad was hit by injuries but nevertheless, Eagles deserved his promotion as he demonstrated by firing home United's fourth goal - a superbly controlled curling effort - in a stunning second-half comeback at Everton on 28 April. It was a fine way to mark his Premiership debut, having come on as a sub for Solskjaer in the 86th minute.

Eagles then confirmed his status as a fully fledged member of the first-team squad with his first Premiership start on 9 May 2007 at Chelsea, where he enjoyed the experience of playing against his boyhood inspiration Joe Cole.

30. Lee Martin

Birthdate:	09 Feb 1987
Birthplace:	Taunton, England
Position:	Winger
Joined United:	15 Dec 2003
United Debut:	26 Oct 2005 v Barnet (H)
International	England

Lightning fast, driven and full of boundless energy, Martin is an absolute nightmare for opposition defenders.

Coveted by many Premiership clubs, Lee signed for United in December 2003. His first full season at Old Trafford brought six Reserve goals as he was quickly fast-tracked from the Under-18s.

An integral part of Ricky Sbragia's Quadruple-winning side in 2004/05, Martin's fine form continued into the 2005/06 season.

In January 2006 Lee was one of five United youngsters sent out on loan to Royal Antwerp, where he quickly caught the eye with his energetic

performances.

Although the Belgians’ bid for promotion ultimately failed, it wasn’t for lack of trying on the young winger’s part, and he was named the fans' Player of the Season for his efforts.

Sadly he was unable to have a similar impact in his next loan move, at Scottish giants Rangers. The Ibrox side's poor form, together with a niggling knee injury prevented Lee making his mark on the SPL.

Upon returning to England Lee attracted the interest of a host of clubs, with Championship side Stoke taking him on loan until the end of the 2006/07 season.
Martin turned in consistently fine form with the Potters, although Tony Pulis' side ultimately failed to reach the playoffs. Buoyed by the experience, Lee returned to Carrington a far more experienced player.