Michael Owen has insisted that one of his former teammates at Manchester United had the ability to become one of the world's best players.
After four injury-hit seasons at Newcastle, Owen arrived at Manchester United in 2009 at a time where Sir Alex Ferguson had built arguably the most dominant team of his tenure at the club.
Ferguson's side had just clinched a third successive Premier League title, and were denied back-to-back Champions League wins by a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico.
The campaign had also proven that the club could continue their success without Cristiano Ronaldo, who had departed the club to join Real Madrid for a world-record fee the previous summer.
One player that had immediately been earmarked as a potential successor to Ronaldo at the club was Nani, who lived with his compatriot Ronaldo as he settled in at the club.
While the Portuguese star would go on to enjoy a glittering career in Manchester that included four Premier League titles, two League cups and that 2008 Champions League triumph, Owen insisted the 37-year-old possessed the ability to have done even more.
'There's loads of players that were absolutely so talented and then probably didn't ever (reach their potential).' Owen told the Daily Star.
'And there were lots of players you think might be a bit of a journeyman, and all of a sudden they reach the absolute top because they're just like mentally monsters. And you know of players that were exceptionally talented and probably could have done even more.
'Someone like Nani at Manchester United, you talk to players and he came hot on the heels of Cristiano Ronaldo – possibly felt a little bit in his shadow. But the ability of that kid…
'He would go and get man of the match three or four weeks on the spin, and then he'd have a little knock or something would go against him and his confidence could be shot and you wouldn't see him for a couple of months type of thing. But he had had just tons of ability.'
Despite controversy surrounding the Liverpool academy graduate arriving at Old Trafford, Owen would enjoy one of the most decorated spells of his career during his two years at the club.
The Ballon D'or winner won the League cup during an impressive maiden season at the club that included a stoppage-time winner to clinch a dramatic derby win against Manchester City before securing the only league title win of his career during the 2010-11 season.