Nani and Berbatov: 'Street football taught us everything'

Berbatov (right), Brown and Nani appeared at an event in Ho Chi Minh City.

For the stars who once fought at the top of Europe, this is not only a reunion but also a journey back to their roots - where their passion and football skills began. During the exchange, Luis Nani - a former Portuguese player - shared emotionally about his strong connection with street football - where he grew up and honed his skills.

“I have a very deep connection with street football. Here, I find myself reliving the best moments of my youth. Street football gave me everything – it helped me become a strong athlete and a strong person in life,” said Nani.

The former Portuguese midfielder says his years playing football on the streets taught him more than any training ground: from quick reflexes and balance in tight spaces to the ability to face difficulties. Now, running his own football academy, Nani strives to instill in his young players a spirit of freedom, creativity and pushing the boundaries – something he sees as “the core of football and life”.

Meanwhile, Dimitar Berbatov - Nani's former teammate at Old Trafford - also stressed that street football was the "biggest school" of his childhood. "We all grew up in a time when street football was an integral part of life. You learned everything there - ball feel, reflexes, technique, and above all courage," Berbatov said.

He believes that impromptu matches in tight spaces help players hone their quick-thinking skills, laying the foundation for a professional career later on. For Berbatov, courage is the most important quality that street football brings.

“In football, as in life, you need the courage to get up after every fall. That is also the spirit of Manchester United – never give up, always fight to win,” said the former Bulgarian star.

From Nani's Lisbon streets to Berbatov's Bulgarian field, both claim it was street football that taught them how to dream, how to play and how to stand firm - the foundations that made Old Trafford legends.

Nani assisted after clearing the ball from his own field. Luis Nani's clearance created an opportunity for Daryl Dike to open the scoring in Orlando City's 3-2 win over Columbus in the US Major League Soccer on the morning of September 5 ( Hanoi time).

Source: https://znews.vn/nani-va-berbatov-bong-da-duong-pho-da-day-chung-toi-tat-ca-post1593159.html