Down a goal in the second half of the latest version of the Manchester Derby, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had a decision to make, who could he bring on to impact the game and level proceedings. Danny Welbeck had been playing out wide in a position he wasn't normally accustomed to and was the likely substitution.
Watching the match and knowing that Nani was available off the bench and with United needing a goal, the likely inclusion for Welbeck seemed inevitable...but it never came. Instead Antonio Valenica was deployed by Ferguson, a player that is often criticized for being one footed and has only managed 4 goals in the last two seasons. It was right then and there that the widespread speculation of a Nani departure following the season wasn't just media hearsay anymore but pretty much a given. The round of 16 red card Nani received against Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League fixture will be in all likelihood his last major moment at the club.
Changes coming at United
With Wilfried Zaha likely to join the club next season after being bought from Crystal Palace, Manchester United looks set to offload several players in the summer to deal with high costs in terms of player wages. While Nani seems to be the biggest name set to be transferred, fellow winger Valencia doesn't seem to be too far behind along with former FC Porto midfielder Anderson. With the influx of wide players at the club also including the likes of Ashley Young, the impressive Shinji Kagawa and the incoming Zaha, opportunities may be few and far between for high wage players like Nani in Sir Alex Ferguson's eyes. Last summer's signing of striker Robin Van Persie and his high wage is also a likely factor in the team's upcoming transfer policy.
Best/Possible Destinations
Arsenal: With the two clubs conducting successful business last summer with Van Persie departing Arsenal for United and Arsene Wenger's known interest in Nani this seems like the best possible situation for the Portuguese winger. With Gervinho failing to impress for the most part, Lukas Podolski likely to leave the club in the summer and Theo Walcott's injury history the opportunity is there for Nani to nail down a starting spot with the Gunners. While the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the wing may come sooner rather than later, Arsenal's free flowing offensive soccer would suit Nani well and playing alongside creative midfielders Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla wouldn't hurt either.
Tottenham: If Welsh winger Gareth Bale is indeed enticed to leave the club for greener pastures in the summer a spot on the wing is up for grabs. While Aaron Lennon seems entrenched on the team, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Lance Holtby have had their struggles at times which may cause Tottenham to go looking for some insurance.
Athletico Madrid: With media speculation linking striker Radamel Falcao with United, the likely transfer of the Colombian starlet would likely be a player plus cash transfer with Nani or perhaps Javier Hernandez being Madrid's likely player choice. La Liga's offensive style coupled with Athletico's strong use of their wingers at times could see Nani strive.
Juventus: The Serie A champions have long been rumored to have interest in Nani but whether or not he could succeed with the Bianconeri is a question in itself. With his lack of back tracking and the Italian league being known for more defensive oriented soccer, the likelihood of Nani succeeding is remote and would likely go down the same failed route of fellow Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma's stint with Inter Milan.
Living in Ronaldo's United shadow
When fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Real Madrid in 2009, Nani was expected to raise his game and pick up the slack at United but while both players share many similarities including great pace, flashy dribbling and strong crossing abilities they differ significantly on several key technical football attributes. Ronaldo's time at United saw him become a complete player with deft finishing ability with both his head and his feet, on the other hand Nani has shined mostly in a role as a play maker with his strong crossing abilities while chipping in goals here and there.
In reality, Nani was never going to be able to repeat Ronaldo's goal scoring exploits at United and for arguments sake very few in the world of soccer could have. Living up to his star compatriots accolades may have in fact put him in a precarious position both mentally and with United's brass and fans, his time with United undoubtedly going down as a failed chapter in his career. How the next chapter turns out will either make or break Nani's legacy as a footballer.
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