No determination made on Nani’s future: Victory coach

Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic insists a choice has not been made on Luis Nani’s future amid stories the A-League Males membership will minimize ties with the underwhelming marquee participant.

Former Manchester United star Nani hasn’t performed since struggling a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in January however went goalless in 10 begins earlier than that.

The 36-year-old signed on a marquee deal final July that was successfully a one-year contract with a clause for a second season if he performed a sure variety of video games.

Community Ten on Sunday reported Victory’s board had met to debate Nani’s contract and as he hadn’t met that video games clause, opted to not re-sign him, with the membership preferring to spend money on youthful gamers.

Nani’s highly-paid marquee contract is partially subsidised by the Australian Skilled Leagues (APL).

Popovic, nevertheless, dismissed options a choice had been made through board assembly, and was adamant Nani’s future would not be determined till after Victory’s final recreation, in opposition to Brisbane subsequent Sunday.

“I am certain if the board had that dialogue I’d find out about it. If that was, no matter you say was reported. As a coach I have not heard something,” Popovic mentioned.

“Look, he is a contracted participant. He is recovering from a partial tear of his ACL. We have to focus on with him on the finish of the (season), which we are going to.

“That was all the time the plan by the membership. That hasn’t modified from our standpoint. We’ll do as we deliberate to do.

“We all know the place he is at. JD (soccer director John Didulica) retains us very nicely knowledgeable on his scenario, how his restoration goes, what stage he is at with the knee.

“The plan, from the second he left, was that we’ll focus on issues with him and his group and the membership on the finish of the season.”

Nani has been in Europe in latest months rehabilitating and Popovic would not be drawn on whether or not he wish to see the Portuguese winger return.

“It is onerous to reply that as a result of we do not even know what his health is like,” he mentioned.

“How will that knee recuperate? How a lot need does he have along with his knee? We do not know.

“On the finish of the season, when we’ve got some clear area, we will received by means of that entire course of. To start with, make it possible for we all know that the harm is healed, or the method or the stage of the harm, the rehab.

“So from the second he left it actually hasn’t modified for us and what we are going to do on the finish with him in our discussions.”

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