Lazio winger Nani has been named in Portugal’s preliminary squad for the World Cup, despite his lack of playing time.
The 31-year-old is on loan from Valencia, but has made only two Serie A starts so far this season and will almost certainly return to Spain in the summer.
Despite that, the former Manchester United man has been included in his country’s 35-man preliminary squad for the World Cup in Russia.
Lazio winger Nani has been named in Portugal’s preliminary squad for the World Cup, despite his lack of playing time.
The 31-year-old is on loan from Valencia, but has made only two Serie A starts so far this season and will almost certainly return to Spain in the summer.
Despite that, the former Manchester United man has been included in his country’s 35-man preliminary squad for the World Cup in Russia.
There’s plenty of Serie A representation in the squad, with Napoli’s Mario Rui, Joao Cancelo of Inter and Milan striker André Silva all included.
Fernando Santos will have to whittle his squad down to 23-men in time for the tournament.
Preliminary Portugal squad for World Cup 2018:
Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes [Lyon], Beto [Goztepe], Rui Patrício [Sporting]
Defenders: Antunes [Getafe], Bruno Alves [Rangers], Cédric Soares [Southampton], João Cancelo [Inter], José Fonte [Dalian Yifang], Luís Neto [Fenerbahçe], Mário Rui [Napoli], Nélson Semedo [Barcelona], Pepe [Besiktas], Raphael Guerreiro [Dortmund], Ricardo Pereira [FC Porto], Rolando [Marselha], Rúben Dias [Benfica]
Midfielders: Adrien Silva [Leicester], André Gomes [Barcelona], Bruno Fernandes [Sporting], João Mário [West Ham, on loan from Inter], João Moutinho [Mónaco], Manuel Fernandes [Lokomotiv], Rúben Neves [Wolverhampton], Sérgio Oliveira [FC Porto], William Carvalho [Sporting]
Forwards: André Silva [Milan], Bernardo Silva [Manchester City], Cristiano Ronaldo [Real Madrid], Éder [Lokomotiv], Gelson Martins [Sporting], Gonçalo Guedes [Valência], Nani [Lazio], Paulinho [SC Braga], Ricardo Quaresma [Besiktas], Ronny Lopes [Mónaco]