Nani worry for United
Sir Alex Ferguson paid £17 million for the attacking midfielder
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Sunday, 17, Jun 2007 04:04
Manchester United new boy Nani will be fit for the start of the season despite being stretched off for Portugal Under-21s last night.
The £17 million midfielder suffered a damaged right ankle in the second half of Portugal's 4-0 win over Israel in the European U21 championships.
Nani capped off an impressive performance with a goal on 50 minutes after whacking a shot from 20 yards into the top corner.
But the former Sporting Lisbon star needed medical attention after being hacked down by substitute Dani Bondarv in the closing stages.
Portugal team doctor Pedro Magro played down the injury and insisted Nani will be fit for Thursday's playoff.
"The injury is not as bad as first feared," Magro said.
"He should be fine to play on Thursday."
Jose Couceiro, Portugal U21 coach, admitted he did not know the extent of the injury.
"I don't know, but I don't think it's a big problem," Couceiro told Sky Sports.
Nani has been below-par in the previous two group games, where Portugal lost 2-1 to Holland and drew 0-0 with Belgium.
Portugal are out of the tournament but will playoff for the final Olympic place if England U21's go through to the semi-finals.
Stuart Pearce's side face a crunch game with Serbia tonight and need to match the result Italy achieve against the Czech Republic.