Nani's Zenit Move Sabotaged by Wage Demands

Nani's proposed move to Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg broke down after the Manchester United attacking midfielder made "unreal" wage demands.

An earlier IBTimes UK report indicated Zenit, coached, by former Roma manager Luciano Spalletti, were in advanced discussions with the 25 year old over a move to Russia. The Portuguese international was reported to be open to the move after finding his first team position at Old Trafford taken by the likes of Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Shinji Kagawa.

However, ESPN now reports Nani's wage demands were deemed to be far too unrealistic for the Russians (and this is a club that has just spent £64m on two players).

"If Hulk had demanded €8 million to €10 million a year, these conditions would have been unacceptable for Zenit," the club's director-general Maxim Mitrofanov explained, "The transfer of Nani failed mostly due to this reason, as he asked for an enormous salary and we would not pay him."

The Daily Mail reports that Nani, who was believed to be negotiating a new long-term deal earlier in the summer, may have shot himself in the foot after asking for a staggering £130,000 per week; he presently has two years left on a £90,000 per week contract. The player's wage demands have held steady since talks of a new deal began, although following his poor performance in the season opener against Everton, he claimed he was ready to retain his present wage and accept an enormous £30,000 per appearance.

The Russian transfer window has now closed, meaning Nani could now be forced to stay at Old Trafford until the winter window opens on 1 January and given Sir Alex Ferguson's dismissive attitude towards players who try to place their contracts and demands above what he believes is best for the club, it is likely the former Sporting Lisbon player has his work cut out to convince the Scot he is worth a place in the first team.