Manchester United and Portugal winger Nani ruled out of World Cup
Portuguese winger Nani has been ruled out of the World Cup finals in South Africa with a shoulder injury.
The 23-year-old picked up the injury during a training session in Lisbon on Friday, and after extensive tests it has been decided that he is too unfit to travel to South Africa.
Benfica midfielder Ruben Amorim has been called up to replace the winger, whose loss will come as a huge blow to Portugal, who begin their Group G campaign against the Ivory Coast in Port Elizabeth on June 15th.
“After tests we conclude he is unfit to participate in the World Cup,” said a brief team statement.
The winger scored six goals in 34 matches for United last season, and found the net three times during Portugal’s World Cup qualification campaign.
Nani becomes the latest big name to be ruled out of the tournament, following his Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, Germany’s Michael Ballack and Ghana’s Michael Essien, while there remain question marks over the fitness of the Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba and Netherlands winger Arjen Robben.
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