FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED winger Nani has claimed signing a new contract with the club in September 2013 ended being the worst moment in his life.
After failing to fully-establish himself as a first-team regular at United under Alex Ferguson, the former Sporting Lisbon man felt that he could prosper under his successor David Moyes by signing a new deal.
“It could have been the best moment of my life but it turned into the worst,” the Portugal winger told the The Guardian.
However, Nani’s inconsistent form continued under Moyes, a fact that was not helped by the winger managing only 13 appearances in the 2013-14 season.
“After you sign a contract like that, you think all the people will be behind you and help you. And you see the opposite.
“Then the stress comes. I was down and, when it’s like that, of course, the injuries come too. It was a bad moment. It was something that made me very down, very disappointed,” Nani said.
Nani returned to Sporting on loan the following season, and although new manager Louis van Gaal wanted the 29-year-old to remain in Manchester, the reluctance from the Dutchman to guarantee Nani first-team football saw the attacker join Turkish giants Fenerbache on a permanent transfer.
“He [Van Gaal] told me that, if I wanted to stay to fight for a position, then good, but I would not be his first option or maybe even the second.
“I said: ‘No. I have been here for many years, I have been very important to this club and I think it’s time to decide.’ I wanted to play every game in the starting XI.”
After a helping Portugal claim their first major international tournament with several impressive displays and important goals, Nani is now back in one of Europe’s top leagues, and will start the new season with La Liga side Valencia.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!