It’s sad to see the current situation unfold with regards to Nani. Some fans appear to be going through a phase of selective amnesia. A few have elected not to acknowledge Nani’s transformation from a notably frustrating, inconsistent winger when he arrived into a more regular, valuable part of the first team which began to occur during the mid-phase of the 09/10 season. His staunch detractors believe that all his key contributions to our campaigns since then never actually happened and all those willing to give Nani a second chance are blind followers. The high productivity levels he attained in terms of assists and general creativity can be easily verified.
When it comes to identifying the root causes for the current predicament he faces over his United future, the decision to reject the contract extension offered last summer can be considered as a significant factor. Perhaps taking the club hostage for a more lucrative deal wasn’t the wisest thing to do under the circumstances, further damaging the way he was viewed by Sir Alex and leading to subsequent, needless marginalization within the squad. During the few, rare matches that he was given the chance to start, the level of performance he displayed on most occasions was subpar from what he usually delivered in peak settings, partly because of the mental effects stemming from the botched contract negotiations. Persistent injury woes have also been major impediments which disrupted the season for him, cruelly thwarting any opportunity he had of regaining top form. Given how Nani heavily relies on his confidence to impact the game, the low confidence he displayed on the pitch is another factor to consider when assessing why he had such a disappointing season.
Overall, although all signs seem to indicate that Nani is heading for the exit door this summer, I would be delighted if we were to somehow hold on to him and help him rediscover his previous at times unplayable form under a new manager. Besides, with the recent news about Rooney deciding to take his trade to greener pastures, losing Nani concurrently would significantly weaken our attacking unit.