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On-loan Manchester United midfielder ‘Nani’ has revealed that the reason behind his summer transfer was to get his confidence back. The Portuguese international joined Sporting Lisbon on a season-long loan as part of the 16 million pound deal that brought defender Marcos Rojo to Old Trafford in August.
Reduced opportunities after Angel Di Maria’s arrival
The winger is savouring the chance to play first-team football again at his first club after having started only 14 league games in his last two years at United. The 28-year-old’s chances would have further been reduced after Angel Di Maria signed for Manchester United on a British record fee this summer.
He said, "I saw the opportunities at United were going to be less for me so I had to make a choice. I had been at Old Trafford for a long time, for seven years, and I think I needed a little time away to understand and find my confidence again. Louis van Gaal gave me the option to go. I could have stayed but I chose the best option for me at the time and I think I was right."
Enjoying full-time football again
Nani, who is still under contract with United untill 2018, is relishing the opportunity at Sporting, having already scored five goals since his return and has said he is happy with his choice to be back at his former club.
"I am very happy how it is going at Sporting. That is what I wanted. I wanted to play more. I wanted to get back to my best and I wanted to enjoy my football. That is what is happening. It is going well. It has turned out very good for me. It has made me very confident again for the future. Yes I had to get away from United to achieve this.
I am enjoying my game again. Football is the best thing in my life. Football has given me everything and I when I play I really enjoy myself so I want to play all the time. That wasn't happening when I was at United. When I don't play I am very disappointed. You can accept not playing regularly for one or two years but after that when you know you have the quality to play, you have to make a choice. That is what I did and it is working out well."
Nani returned to Old Trafford to play an international friendly against Argentina on Tuesday. The match was won by Portugal 1-0.
