Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Nani makes right move
ani has finally proved he can be the RIGHT man for the job at United. 2010 has so far been a pivotal year for the 23-year-old Portuguese winger. Prior to the New Year, it seemed the best the £18m buy from Sporting Lisbon could hope for was a January transfer window route out of Old Trafford. And if he had hoped that Cristiano Ronaldo's exit to Real Madrid last summer would be his ticket to his favoured right wing role, he was wrong. Instead, the road to that potential salvation became more clogged than ever before. Having largely had to play on the left side in order for Ronaldo to occupy his favoured right wing berth, Nani suffered as a consequence. But candidates to fill the vacancy left by the £80m export were swiftly imported by Sir Alex Ferguson. And when Nani did play, he was stuck on the opposite flank to the one he craved. On top of that, he had to endure £16m summer signing Antonio Valencia making rapid progress on the right and earn growing plaudits from Fergie. There was even a spell when the previously unknown Gabriel Obertan was flavour of the month in Ronaldo's old position. The young £3m Frenchman made a brief impact to further push the then-injured Nani's nose out of joint. Nani progress Indeed, Nani ended 2009 further down the pecking order than when Ronaldo was there! With few fans championing his cause, the Portuguese star appeared to be in the wilderness with a move away from Manchester looking a certainty. What a difference a fortnight makes. A stunning 15-day spell has transformed Nani. Starting against Burnley on the left, he began his rehab but when he switched to the right flank against Hull and City in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg, he was a revelation. Confirmation that the ugly duckling was turning into a swan came when Fergie picked him at Arsenal on Sunday. It was Nani's third match in nine days but justified his selection above Valencia with an awesome display. The ineffective over-elaboration and failed deliveries has been replaced by effective artistry and a first class and fast delivery. Meanwhile, Obertan has been forced out of the picture to such an extent his agent felt the need to insist he didn't want away from Old Trafford. So has Nani picked up on Valencia's direct wing play to transform his own fortunes? "I don't think he's learned from Valencia," said Fergie. "He's always had that as he is a very good crosser of a ball. "When he plays on the left maybe he does that (over-elaborates) but the right side is his natural position." Ferguson added: "It is amazing when you talk to the players - they all want him to play. They all think he is fantastic. We are getting consistency from him now. We have a really good player. "We wondered if he would feel tired after three games in a week but he never showed that until the last 10 minutes. "But it gives me a massive decision now between Nani and Antonio Valencia." Who should get the starting berth, Nani or Valencia? Have your say.
