MANCHESTER UNITED'S NANI: I WON'T BE CITY FALL GUY

NANI has had the final word on the Vincent Kompany red card challenge which saw the Manchester FA Cup derby explode in controversy.

The United star didn’t react to the City defender’s two-footed tackle which left boss Roberto Mancini furiously denying that it was a sending off.

But Nani has claimed if he hadn’t jumped out of the way he could have suffered serious injury.

“I jumped,” said the Portugal star. “I jumped in that tackle. If I didn’t jump I might not be here to play. It was a very dangerous challenge. It was two feet.

“He didn’t touch me, it’s true – but sometimes you see very bad tackles on the legs and it’s just a yellow card. Or no card.

“That was the referee’s opinion and we have to respect that.”

Nani, who has been accused of going down too easily, strongly denied he’s a serial diver and claims other players and fans are jealous of his talent.

He added: “This is funny. I don’t know. The quality I have got makes people jealous. Of course the fans who say that are not Manchester United fans.

“They’re not the ones who like me. If I play against Spurs, Liverpool or Chelsea and someone gives me a tackle or pushes me I go down.

“But they will say he goes down easily. Yes, it’s not a foul. Of course, they will defend these players. That’s why they say I go down easily.

“But if you ask my team-mates, the people who work with me, they know me. They don’t say I go down easily.”

Source : .dailystar

Nani praises Reds' response

Nani thinks United provided the perfect response to the European exit by putting Wolves to the sword at Old Trafford.

Last season's Players' Player of the Year was outstanding and scored twice in a Barclays Premier League fixture for the first time as the Black Country outfit were beaten 4-1.

In this sort of form, the winger is a nightmare proposition for defenders and, after swelling his goals tally in the league to five this season, there is hope he'll continue to dazzle throughout the festive period.

"I think we had a fantastic performance," he enthused to MUTV. "Everyone played well and I think everyone wanted to win this game. It's the way we normally play, who we are and, of course, it was a fantastic afternoon with a lot of goals. Everyone is happy with the game.

"It's been tough. We know we always go the final stages of the Champions League and we're used to qualifying easily through the groups, so this time it's disappointing.

"We did not expect to go to the Europa League but we are still alive and still have the opportunity to play like today. We just have to do our best to win the competitions we are in.

"Of course, the last game [v Basel] was a bad moment but I think we responded very well with this game today and I hope we keep doing the same until the finish of the season."

In terms of his own form, Nani was pleased with his contribution to the convincing victory as he also assisted Wayne Rooney's first strike.

 

"It's always nice to score goals and help the team win the game," he explained. "It's important for the team I'm on my best form and I'm happy with my performance. I've been working hard to try and be at my best as then I can help the team.

"I enjoy playing everywhere - the most important thing is my contribution to the team is the best. I will always try to show the quality I have. I just want to score goals, enjoy my football and win the games."

Soure : www.manutd.com

Ronaldo, Nani, Pepe e Ricardo Carvalho candidatos ao onze do ano

Por Redacção

Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Pepe e Ricardo Carvalho integram a lista de 55 jogadores pré-seleccionados para integrar o onze ‘Fifa FIFPro World XI 2011’.

Os quatro jogadores são os representantes portugueses na lista de candidatos hoje anunciada pela FIFA, dominada por Barcelona (11) e Real Madrid (10).

A Espanha, com 12 atletas, é o país mais representado, à frente do Brasil, com oito jogadores pré-seleccionados.

Neymar, do Santos, é o único jogador contemplado que actua fora da Europa.

A eleição do onze do ano (será formado por um guarda-redes, quatro defesas, três médios e três avançados) ficará a cargo dos 50 mil jogadores profissionais dos sindicatos que compõem a FIFPro. O resultado da votação será divulgado a 9 de Janeiro.

Iker Casillas, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi e Cristiano Ronaldo integraram a equipa do ano em 2009 e 2010.

Lista dos 55 jogadores pré-seleccionados:

Guarda-redes: Gianluigi Buffon (ITA/Juventus), Iker Casillas (ESP/Real Madrid), Manuel Neuer (ALE/Bayern), Victor Valdés (ESP/Barcelona), Edwin van der Sar (HOL/Manchester United até Maio 2011);

Defesas: Éric Abidal (FRA/Barcelona), Daniel Alves (BRA/Barcelon), Ricardo Carvalho (POR/Real Madrid), Ashley Cole (ING/Chelsea), Patrice Evra (FRA/Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (ING/Manchester United), Vincent Kompany (BEL/Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (ALE/Bayern), Lucio (BRA/Inter Milão), David Luiz (BRA/Chelsea), Maicon (BRA/Inter Milão), Marcelo (BRA/Real Madrid), Alessandro Nesta (ITA/Milan), Pepe (POR/Real Madrid), Gerard Piqué (ESP/Barcelona), Carles Puyol (ESP/Barcelona), Sérgio Ramos (ESP/Real Madrid), Thiago Silva (BRA/Milan), John Terry (ING/Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (SER/Manchester United)

Médios: Xabi Alonso (ESP/Real Madrid), Gareth Bale (GAL/Tottenham), Sergio Busquets (ESP/Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (ESP/Barcelona), Andrés Iniesta (ESP/Barcelona), Kaká (BRA/Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (ING/Chelsea), Nani (POR/Manchester United), Mesut Özil (ALE/Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (ITA/Juventus), Bastian Schweinsteiger (ALE/Bayern), David Silva (ESP/Manchester City), Wesley Sneijder (HOL/Inter Milão), Yaya Touré (Costa Marfim/Manchester City), Xavi (ESP/Barcelona)

Avançados: Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (ING/Manchester United), David Villa (ESP/Barcelona), Samuel Etoo (CAM/Anzhi Makhatchkala), Sergio Agüero (ARG/Manchester City), Neymar (BRA/Santos), Didier Drogba (Costa Marfim/Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SUE/AC Milan), Luis Suarez (URU/Liverpool), Radamel Falcao (COL/Atlético Madrid), Edinson Cavani (URU/Nápoles), Karim Benzema (FRA/Real Madrid), Mario Gomez (ALE/Bayern), Robin van Persie (HOL/Arsenal).

United Siapkan Kontrak Baru Untuk Nani

Nani akan diberikan kenaikan gaji yang besar dari Manchester United untuk mengabaikan ketertarikan dari Italia pada dirinya.

Manchester United langsung bergerak cepat untuk mengamankan jasa Luis Nani dari kejaran klub-klub raksasa Italia. Setan Merah siap memberikan Nani kontrak baru dengan kenaikan gaji yang cukup signifikan.

Sebelumnya, Inter Milan, Juventus dan AC Milan disebut media-media Inggris akan coba mendatangkan Nani pada musim panas 2012 mendatang. Trio raksasa Italia itu sangat yakin Nani akan mencoba tantangan baru di Serie A. Pasalnya, pemain 24 tahun ini telah menghabiskan empat tahun terakhir kariernya di Inggris.

Kedatangan Ashley Young ditambah masih bercokolnya sayap Antonio Valencia dan Ryan Giggs membuat Nani harus berbagi tempat di starter Setan Merah. Sumber di Italia meyakini Nani bisa direkrut dari Man United  dengan tebusan 30 juta euro.

Man United pun langsung mengambil langkah cepat usai menangani kabar ini. Menurut The Sun, kubu Setan Merah siap menaikkan gaji Nani dari 90.000 euro per pekannya menjadi 130.000 euro. Gaji ini akan setara dengan gaji duet bek senior, yakni Nemanja Vidic dan Rio Ferdinand.

Man United juga siap menawarkan perpanjangan kontrak baru selama 4 tahun kepada pemain asal Portugal tersebut. Kontrak lama Nani sendiri baru akan berakhir pada 18 bulan mendatang.

Nani telah gabung dengan MU sejak 2007 lalu. Penampilannya terus berkembang dengan positif dari tahun ke tahun. Musim ini, Nani sudah tampil dalam 16 pertandingan dengan torehan 5 gol.

Para petinggi Old Trafford percaya bahwa Nani masih bisa berkembang dalam jalur yang sama dengan bintang lama mereka, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nani’s new deal to ward off Italy interest

NANI is to be given a mega pay rise by Manchester United to see off interest from Italy.

United plan to move the Portuguese winger, already on £90,000 a week, up to the next tier of their pay-scale alongside the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand on a reported £130,000 a week. 

Both Milan clubs and Juventus are showing interest in a summer raid.

But United top brass have pencilled in talks with Nani's representatives for early in the New Year, when the 24-year-old has 18 months left on his contract. 

Boss Sir Alex Ferguson will resist any attempts to cash in on the £30million- rated star, who he signed from Sporting Lisbon for £18.5m in 2007. That is likely to mean an improved four-year deal. The Old Trafford chief is convinced Nani can develop along the same lines as Portugese legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

APELO NANI: PORTUGAL VS. BÓSNIA

Nani a star in his own right for Portugal

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Nani is only in the shadow of former Old Trafford team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo "because he is Portuguese", with the winger in line to earn a 50th cap on Friday. 

 

After a remarkable year, Portugal winger Nani hopes to mark his 50th cap in style against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Friday's UEFA EURO 2012 play-off first leg in Zenica.
Having emerged from Cristiano Ronaldo's shadow at Manchester United FC, following his Portugal team-mate's move to Real Madrid CF in 2009, Nani – who made his international debut in September 2006 – is eager to continue shining for his country, having been ever-present in their EURO Group H qualifying campaign.
The former Sporting Clube de Portugal midfielder also played a major role in United's 19th English title triumph last season, his third in four years, and with nine goals and an unrivalled 18 assists, his influence upon Sir Alex Ferguson's side was reflected by further recognition: United's players' player of the year award for 2010/11.
"Nani had a fantastic season," Sir Alex said of his 2007 signing. "He is only in Ronaldo's shadow because he is Portuguese. That is the only link I can see. He was never in his shadow in my mind. He has always had great potential but some players take longer to mature than others."
If Nani has come into his own since Ronaldo left Old Trafford, he also enjoyed two of his best national-team nights in the winger's absence as Portugal booked their 2010 FIFA World Cup place with 1-0 wins in both play-off legs against Bosnia and Herzegovina. With Ronaldo injured for those November 2009 games, Nani rose to the challenge, setting up each clinching goal – Bruno Alves's in Lisbon and Raul Meireles's in Zenica.
It was another declaration of independence from a player who does not welcome comparisons. "I am Nani and not Cristiano Ronaldo," he once said. "I don't want comparisons because our style of play is different."
With Portugal now bidding to reach a fifth consecutive UEFA European Championship in the play-offs, Nani will attempt to have a similarly dramatic impact this time around. He turns 25 two days after next Tuesday's second leg in Lisbon and, having missed the 2010 World Cup with a collarbone injury, will hope he has reached the perfect age to prosper in Poland and Ukraine.
"I thought this was going to be my World Cup," he lamented last summer. "I was training and playing well, but that's life." Having grown in stature as a player since, Nani can only anticipate that bigger and better opportunities lie ahead.