Nani coming out of Ronaldo's shadow

Over two years ago many wondered whether Nani had a future with us after a falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson, yesterday he walked off the Old Trafford pitch after scoring a stunning goal, providing the assist for Rooney's goal and picking up the man of the match award.

He was voted by his fellow team-mates as the club's players' player of the year last season and has continued to prove why they chose him this season. The Portuguese winger has been in good scoring four goals and providing three assists. 

Nani is often compared to his former team-mate and fellow countryman Ronaldo. Earlier this month Nani spoke to Inside United about being compared to Ronaldo.

"For five years, every time the question is the same. It's all about Ronaldo. You have to be him. Are you doing the same? Do you think you can do it now?

"Always when I do something good it's the same. When I do OK, it's nothing. When I do something very good, they come with this question about him. But it's OK. It doesn't change anything in me. This is my fifth year here and people know what I can do. Sometimes I play a nice game, sometimes I play not such a fantastic game, but I think everyone knows me and what I can do. Maybe my form has to be more consistent and my performances in the past should be like that.

"Now I'm in this position I'm more confident, more consistent. I can do for 90 minutes what in the past I just did for 45, and that's the most important thing.

"I don't need to show anything to anyone because I know who I am, which player I am, and now I just need to put everything on the pitch. When I do that, I do it for me, for my family and for my team. Of course I know when I do that, it's always for the fans as well. They take everything good from the game. They love goals and skills as well. But I don't do it for the media because when you try to do it for the media, nothing goes well. I think the most important thing is to be natural and play the way you are."

Nani with former team-mate Ronaldo

Yesterday was Nani's 100th Premier League game in a United shirt and surprisingly has the same amount of goals Ronaldo did at the same stage. 

First 100 PL appearances.

Nani

Minutes 6752

Goals 19
Assists 33

Ronaldo

Minutes 6705

Goals 19
Assists 12 

Nani may never become as good as Ronaldo or as big a superstar, but one thing is for sure, he has played his way into becoming one of our most important players. Long may it continue.

Why not visit our forum and discuss Nani here: http://www.soccer24-7.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174253

Sparky