Nani big on Sporting chances

It did not take Nani long to show the rest of Europe why Sporting Clube de Portugal rate their young midfielder so highly.

Great goal
An hour into only his second UEFA Champions League game, against FC Spartak Moskva, Nani picked up the ball in the opposition half, laid it off to Liedson then darted forward to collect the Brazilian's return pass. One touch took the 19-year-old beyond the Spartak defence. He rounded the goalkeeper then, from a tight angle, lifted it into the net. It was the one moment of brilliance from Sporting in a match that Spartak dominated, but it was enough to earn the Portuguese side a point that keeps their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.

Spectacular celebration
Nani, who turned 20 on Friday, is modest about the goal and the spectacular back-flip with which he celebrated it. "I thought about making the one-two and with my speed I believed I could score," Nani told uefa.com. "It was a hard angle to score from but the ball went in. It was my first goal in the UEFA Champions League and I celebrated it intensely. It was a good shot but I was a little bit lucky."

Opportunities taken
It was even more impressive considering he has been a Sporting regular for less than a year. "At first it all happened too quickly but it was a dream for me to get to the senior Sporting squad," Nani said. "The coaches gave me the opportunity and I grabbed it thanks to my belief in my ability."

'Amazing feeling'
The talented midfielder has since broken into the full Portugal squad and made his debut in September. "It was an amazing feeling being able to play alongside Portugal's top players," Nani said. "Now that initial rush has passed and I only want to work and show my talent. If I'm with the Portugal team that's because I have the qualities to be there. Now I have to continue my work to help the team and grow as a player."

Inter test
Sporting go to FC Internazionale Milano on Wednesday knowing defeat would be fatal for their UEFA Champions League hopes. "We have to play like we have been doing, with the same attitude," Nani said. "It will be important to keep to our style and our playing qualities like having a lot of possession. We have to believe that anything is possible and we must think of Inter as a normal team."

Interest
Sporting defeated Inter 1-0 at the Estádio José Alvalade on Matchday 1 but the Italian champions have since moved into second place after Paulo Bento's side picked up just one point in two games against FC Bayern München. Nani's own performances against the German giants won praise from Felix Magath, while Manchester United FC have also openly courted the starlet. "It is always nice to know there are clubs interested in you," Nani said. "However I am feeling very good at Sporting at the moment. This is a great club and I am very satisfied here." With such a talent on their hands, that will be music to Sporting coach Paolo Bento's ears.

This is an abridged version of an article that appears in this week's edition of the uefa.com Magazine. To read the article in full, click here.