Thibaut Simon, Media365: published on Sunday January 25, 2026 at 7:49 p.m.
A former Portuguese international, Nani comes out of retirement at 39. The ex-Manchester United player signs for Kazakhstan in a role as player and advisor.
Clearly, the “grandpas” of Portuguese football are resisting. While Cristiano Ronaldo continues to have fun in Saudi Arabia in his club Al-Nassr with the ultimate record of 1,000 career goals, one of his former teammates in the selection will return to the game. Indeed, Nani, who played for Manchester United (2007-2015) just like CR7, has decided to come out of retirement at 39 years old. With 230 appearances in the Mancunian jersey (41 goals), the Portuguese winger subsequently traveled, passing through Sporting Portugal, Fenerbahçe, Valencia, Lazio or even the United States in Orlando and Australia in Melbourne. His last professional match dates back to November 1, 2024 under the colors of Estrela (Portuguese first division), the Portuguese’s latest club.
A signature in Kazakhstan, an advisory role
As improbable as it may seem, Nani will return to the field. And it was in Kazakhstan that the 39-year-old Portuguese signed his new contract. “I am very happy to have joined FC Aktobe and look forward to contributing to the development of the club and football in Kazakhstan,” said Nani. Indeed, the winger has signed a one-year contract which includes a broader role within the club. “Nani is considered by the structure of FC Aktobe as an international reference figure, capable of contributing to the growth and global influence of the club and Kazakh football,” declared the club for its part. With 111 caps (24 goals), Nani has won numerous titles during his career: Euro 2016 with his selection and the Champions League in 2008 with Manchester United, a club with which he also won several English championships (4).
Beyond his role as a player, Nani will help the club develop on the European scene. Currently, only the Kairat Almaty club (Arsenal’s future opponent in C1) is among the local representatives in the Champions League. The Portuguese’s experience hopes to be of use to FC Aktobe, which has not been Kazakhstan’s champion since 2013. “I would like to thank the club’s owner, Mr. Nurlan Artykbaev, the president, Mr. Arman Ospanov, and the governor, Mr. Askhat Shakarov, for their welcome and support. I was very impressed by the club’s vision for the future and I will fully invest in leading us to new heights, both nationally and internationally! », concluded Nani in a message published on his X account.
