Three Man United players were involved in England’s unconvincing 3-1 win over Mexico at Wembley this evening.

Rio Ferdinand led out England as skipper but it didn't get off to the best of starts. Defensively England looked disorganised and shaky, especially during the first 10/15 minutes. Ferdinand was taken off at halftime, replaced by Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher.

Michael Carrick had been poor for Man United during the 09/10 got off to a poor start at Wembley; he couldn’t take control of the game and was substituted in the 62nd minute. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he isn’t named in the 23 man squad, who will travel to South Africa for the World Cup.

Surprisingly Wayne Rooney played the full 90 minutes, which was a risk considering it is a friendly and the criticism that the Wembley Turf has had over recent weeks. Rooney didn’t have a stand out game but he did have one or two good chances at goal.

We didn’t really see much from United’s potential new signing (subject to a work permit) Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez. Saying that Mexican did look lively on and off the ball and was involved in some good play. He did have a shot at goal but he didn’t get the opportunities on goal that he would get whilst playing at United.

England won the game 3-1 with goals from Ledley King, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson for England. Guillermo Franco scored for Mexico.

Other reds in action today were Luis Nani, who played in Portugal’s disappointing 0-0 draw against Cape Verde Islands. Ji-Sung Park played in South Korea’s 2-0 win over England’s next friendly opponents Japan.

Ahead of this summers World Cup; the provisional 30-man squads have been announced, with England manager Fabio Capello naming three Man United players.

Rio Ferdinand (England captain), Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick were all named. There had been rumours that Owen Hargreaves would be included but after being on the pitch for 31 seconds for the first team, he wasn’t named.

It has also been revealed that Paul Scholes turned down the chance to come out of retirement, instead he chose to spend some time with his family.

Wes Brown wasn’t named, which was a bit of a surprise considering that he played for England during the qualifying stages, unlike Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher, who has decided that he’s finished sulking, he will come out of retirement and play for England again, he has been included.

Gary Neville and Ben Foster also weren’t included in the England squad. That’s not really much of a surprise, Neville probably wouldn’t get a game and Foster has hardly played this season and Capello made it clear that if players don’t play for their clubs- they won’t be included!

Other United players named in their International squads are- Patrice Evra (France), Ji-Sung Park (South Korea), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia), Zoran Tosic (Serbia) and Luis Nani (Portugal).

Man United’s potential summer signing (subject to a work permit) Javier Hernandez has been named I the Mexico 30-man squad.

Man United has announced that winger Luis Nani has signed a new contract with United, which will see him at Old Trafford until 2014.

There was much speculation leading upto the January 2010 transfer window that the player would be on his way out, after failing to cement him place in the team since he arrived in 2007.

Nani has had a few brilliant games whilst wearing that Man United shirt in 2010 and has now been rewarded with a new contract.

So far this season Nani has played 25 matches for United, scoring three goals, and he has been shown one yellow and one red card.

Nani said: “I am delighted to have signed a new contract. It has been like a dream come true to play for Manchester United.

"The coaching staff have taught me so much about the game and I'm playing alongside some of the best players in the world. I'm looking forward to winning many more trophies with this team.”

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Nani is an emerging talent within the team and has developed tremendously since joining the club. We are delighted he has signed a new contract and I am sure he will have a long and successful future here at Manchester United."

Man United winger Luis Nani has predicted that United won’t lose any matches at Old Trafford until the end of the season. This is ahead of the game against Liverpool tomorrow, as well as that we still have Chelsea, Tottenham, Stoke, Bayern Munich and possibly Bordeaux or Lyon still to play at Old Trafford.

Speaking to The Sun, Nani said: “I bet we do not lose one match at Old Trafford until the end of season.”

Not only has Nani made that prediction, he also said that if Liverpool don’t win anything then Steven Gerrard should leave the club in the summer.

“I do not know about the intentions of Steven Gerrard this summer but it is normal that a player with his quality desires to win titles and if this doesn’t happen in Liverpool he could think about leaving.”

I would say that Gerrard and Fernando Torres should leave Liverpool in the summer after they don’t win anything.

Man United winger Luis Nani has said that the reason why his form has improved over recent month is due to him having to “grow up”.

Nani told Reuters: “At the moment I’m feeling in good form and I want to contribute to the team winning trophies.”

“Getting to the Champions League final and winning it is one of the aims.
“I work hard every day and I try and be a better player than I was a couple of months ago. I know I am important for the team and I want to try to deliver things for the team.

“This club is good at making players grow up and learn to be a man, to be a player. That happened to me a couple of months ago and now I’m feeling very happy and strong.
 
“I’m still learning all the time. I’m only 23 years old and I still have time to learn things and to try and be an even better player. Of course, I want to score more goals because it’s important for me and the club.
“But at the moment I’m happy with my contribution to the team. I have been involved in setting up a lot of goals. I know I make an important contribution.”

Nani joined Man United in the summer of 2007 and his first few season’s weren’t that great. He did win medals with United but his performance’s weren’t good, sometimes we saw glimpses of what he is capable of but not consitently.

It also didn’t help that he had to compete against Cristiano Ronaldo for a place in the side. Ronaldo was one of the World’s best players so he was going to be picked ahead of Nani most of the time.

When Ronaldo left United in the summer, Nani said that he would fill the boots of Ronaldo, which he didn’t do until earlier on this year.

During mid November, whilst out with his international team Portugal, Nani was quoted as saying:
"Ferguson is a very complicated man.

"He's tough. If things are all right, then they are all right. But when he thinks something is wrong, everything is screwed.

"He can go from complimenting you to just plain trashing you in a matter of minutes. Has it happened to me? Hell, yes! He'll say 'Nani, how could you miss this or this'?"

"He shouts at players in front of everyone. No one escapes, everybody is the same. Giggs and Neville suffer most, because they have more experience. It is 'F**k' here and 'F**k' there."

"People expect more from me and it's not easy. But they are also not doing what they said they were going to.
"I know it would be better if I scored more goals.
"I can have a spectacular game but nobody guarantees me I will be starting the next match. It shatters your confidence.

"I did not play the important matches, against Liverpool, Manchester City or Tottenham. Not playing these games, I am a bit sad. But for now I am not considering leaving."

After that Nani didn’t play until 8th December 2009 in United’s 3-1 win over Wolfsburg. He was then left out of the team until the 16th January 2010, part of that was due to injury.

Since returning he went on a run of three or four stunning matches for United, where he played a main part of United’s games and it looked like he was forging a partnership with Wayne Rooney. On the 10th February Nani was shown a straight red against Aston Villa, which meant he was out for three matches, including the Carling Cup final against Villa.

Since returning from suspension Nani hasn’t quite been in the form he was before the suspension but he is getting better. Nani is becoming more consistent, he just has to hit top form and keep it that way.

It has been revealed by football agent Barry Silkman that Luis Nani was offered to Middlesbrough for £3.5million months before his £17 million move to Man United in the summer of 2007.

Speaking to Sport.co.uk, Silkman said that the winger was offered to the then Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate for a lot less than was paid for him eight months later.

Silkman said: “Recently, the biggest one I have missed out on, I saw a player in Portugal a few years ago called Nani.”

“I tried to do a deal with Middlesbrough who I was very close to at the time; I did a lot of deals when Steve McClaren was manager.”

“I offered Nani to Middlesbrough and Gareth Southgate didn’t fancy him. He was £3.5million.”

“He went to Manchester United for $27million and it was only eight or nine months later, that’s all it was.”
“Manchester United’s chief executive David Gill actually phoned Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb to ask him if that story was true! And Keith Lamb said yeah it is.”

There is a massive difference in the price, it shocked me a bit when I first read it. Maybe you would expect a 1 or 2 million pound difference but not a £13.5 difference in only eight months. Sporting Lisbon must have been laughing all the way to the bank after that.

Nani hasn’t always been in the best of form since arriving at Old Trafford. He hadn’t hit any form until earlier this year, after recovering from an injury. After returning to the team he had a run of three or four matches where he had been fantastic, but then he was stupidly sent off against Aston Villa when he was in top form. Since returning from the three-match ban we have seen glimpses of what we had seen earlier on this year but he has become a bit frustrating again.

We have seen what he is capable of and I am sure that Sir Alex Ferguson will get the best out of him and hopefully he can continue it.

Last night Man United winger Luis Nani apologised for the red card he received against Aston Villa on Wedneday. Nani was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Villa’s Stiliyan Petrov, who was injured as a result of that lunge according to his manager Martin O’Neill.

Nani will now miss the Premier League games against Everton and Wolves, he will also miss the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa.

Nani said: “I’m sorry I got sent off because I damaged the work of the team and we did not have a full team, didn’t win the game and didn’t go to the top of the table.

“I don’t think I deserved the red card because I was going for the ball and not the player. I didn’t mean to leave Petrov injured and anyone who knows me knows that I’m not a violent player.

“It’s disappointing because I was playing well, helping the team and we are going for the title. I can’t wait to come back.

“The manager has told me that bad tackles are punished heavily in England but I insist that I was going for the ball, not the player.”

I don't think that many believe that Nani is a dirty player, it was more a stupid challenge. A few years ago he wouldn't have been sent off but things have changed and going in with a two footed challenge will get you a straight red.

At one point it looked almost certain that Man United winger Luis Nani would leave Old Trafford during the January transfer window. January has been and gone, Nani is still at Man United and has finally started hitting some form.

Nani has claimed that he never thought about leaving Man United and he is now aiming to become one of the world’s best footballers.

Whilst out on International duty with Portugal, Nani was quoted as saying:

"Ferguson is a very complicated man.


"He's tough. If things are all right, then they are all right. But when he thinks something is wrong, everything is screwed.


"He can go from complimenting you to just plain trashing you in a matter of minutes. Has it happened to me? Hell, yes! He'll say 'Nani, how could you miss this or this'?"


"He shouts at players in front of everyone. No one escapes, everybody is the same. Giggs and Neville suffer most, because they have more experience. It is 'F**k' here and 'F**k' there."


"People expect more from me and it's not easy. But they are also not doing what they said they were going to.


"I know it would be better if I scored more goals.
"I can have a spectacular game but nobody guarantees me I will be starting the next match. It shatters your confidence.


"I did not play the important matches, against Liverpool, Manchester City or Tottenham. Not playing these games, I am a bit sad. But for now I am not considering leaving."

Since those comments, he was linked to many clubs. But after recovering from injury, Nani has been an important part of Man United’s last four games.

Quotes attributed with Nani today say that he never thought about leaving United.

"I never wanted to go,'' Nani told the Manchester Evening News. "When you are feeling low and things aren't going well, you do feel alone and there have been times like that. But I never thought about quitting and going back to Portugal.

"I was in a bad position sometimes and it wasn't easy to get back up again. Of course, your confidence does suffer on occasions and you get down. But I have shown I don't get depressed too easily.

"I am a strong personality. If you are not a strong character then it will drag you down. I am not like that. I am sure I have the quality to be one of the best in the world. I can achieve that.''

Man United winger Luis Nani joined Man United in the summer of 2007. When he came, he was labelled as the next Cristiano Ronaldo. I think it is fair to say that he has looked nothing like a replacement to Ronaldo, until recently.

After returning from an injury, Nani has looked like a new player. Nani has played the last three games and he has shone, yesterday probably being the best.

“I played well,” Nani said. “I scored one goal, provided an assist and had a few other chances to score. It was a fantastic performance and I’m happy to help my team win this game.”

"Of course it's my goal," he added. "I put the ball into the goal so it should be my goal. I did everything to make it happen. I was very confident and the dribble worked very well. I'm really happy to contribute to today's win."

Nani also said: “I’m working hard every day to be fit and ready to play. I’m very happy because I feel the confidence from my team-mates, the manager and the fans. I hope I can continue to show good form. I'm feeling better with every game I play."

I’m not sure whether or not he will be credited with the goal but he did deserve it. I would probably bet on it being put down as a Manuel Almunia own goal rather than a Nani goal.

Nani’s improvement hasn’t been missed by Sir Alex Ferguson, how could he notice the difference?


“Nani's last three games have been absolutely first class and today was his best,” Fergie said. "He was absolutely outstanding.


“It’s difficult to say why we’re seeing his best form now, but maybe maturity is one reason. He’s a very shy boy and maybe his personality is getting stronger and better for dealing with playing for us every week. Today was an example of that maturity.

"Hopefully games like that will give him the confidence to know he’s a United player. When you talk to the other players, they all want him to play, they all think he’s fantastic."

What we don’t want to do now is get over excited. Nani has played well for three consecutive matches, he needs to stay in the team and keep his confidence high but we don’t want to put too much pressure on him.

It wasn’t that long ago that some Man United fans were calling for the player to be sold. Right now, Man United aren’t missing Ronaldo and if Nani can carry on this way, we won’t.

Hopefully he can keep this up and keep consistant.

Man United winger Luis Nani had a fantastic game for Manchester United against Hull City. Since joining Man United Nani has been very inconsistent, he has had some good games but probably more poor.

Nani has said that he believes his poor performances earlier on in the season was due to injury.

"It was very frustrating to be out injured, but it happens in football," Nani said on MUTV. "I'm back now and I feel very good.
"I was happy with my performance [against Hull] and I just want to keep improving every week so I can help the team be successful”


"Everyone is very happy," Nani added. "It's great to be top of the table and it's given everyone a lot of confidence.
"We're playing well, scoring goals and feeling good."

Sounds like Nani isn’t going anywhere then.

Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is well known for his ‘hair dryer’ treatment when it comes to players who aren’t performing at the level they should. Sir Alex has spoken about how he deals with multi millionaire footballers.

Speaking at a lecture in Dublin, he said: "If I lose control of these multi-millionaires in the Manchester United dressing room then I'm dead.

"So I never lose control. If anyone steps out of my control, that's them dead.

"Through my development, I've come across two issues - power and control.

"Control is important, very, very important. My control is the most important thing."

Winger Luis Nani is thought to have been one of the most recent to be on the end of one of Sir Alex’s rants.

Nani said: “He is a very complicated guy,”
“He's tough. If things are OK, he will be OK, but if there is anything he believes to be wrong, you are screwed. He can go from complimenting you to just plain trashing in a couple of minutes. Has it happened to me? Hell, yes. He'll say "Nani, how could you miss this or this?”

If you believe what you read then this summer Sir Alex Ferguson will be selling £80 million worth of his squad. The Sunday Mirror believe that Sir Alex will sell Dimitar Berbatov, Luis Nani, Anderson, Nemanja Vidic and Zoran Tosic.

The Sunday mirror claim that a “United insider” said:

“The four midfield players got a lot of criticism after the Leeds [United] game, but the biggest underperformer was [Dimitar] Berbatov.

“People say he’s got a great touch, and that isn’t in doubt, but this game is also about hunger and workrate.

“To put it bluntly, Berbatov doesn’t run around enough for this United team - and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the people that matter most.”

Vidic has been linked with a move to Spanish side Real Madrid. Berbatov and Nani have been labelled as flops, Tosic can’t get into the team and I am surprised that Anderson was named in that list.

Most of the gossip that comes out into the public is rubbish but I don’t think anyone would be surprised if Nani left in January or in the summer. I would be surprised if Anderson and Vidic left. I am not sure about Berbatov or Tosic, Berbatov has to improve and we need to see more of Tosic to really tell if he is worthy of wearing the Man United shirt.

Man United winger Luis Nani has said that he wants to be a part of Manchester United's history. This will be Nani's third season with Man United, the last two haven't been that successful performance wise but now it is time for him to shine.

Over the past few years I believe that Nani and other United players have been overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo, now he has gone it is time for them to shine.

"It makes me really happy to know that this club wants to keep me, it really gives me confidence," Nani told The Daily Telegraph. "It's fantastic to know that, at a club like this, they are thinking about my future. I heard something about Barcelona.

"It is good for a player to hear that the best clubs in the world want you to play for them. But my mind was only thinking about Manchester. I have never thought about going. I have been here only two years and want to do something for this club, to be part of its history."

"I’m thinking only about this season. Forget the past. I want to be the man. I think I have a lot to do to show them my best, because I haven't done that yet. I want to get to the point where I have the confidence of the manager, the players and the fans. Once you have that then everything is possible because you know they are all there to support you.”

"I know a lot of people compare me with Cristiano but I don't want that because I'm different. Yes, there are some similarities but we are also different.

“ I don't want to be compared with him all the time, it's not good, especially if things are not going well. I want to hear people speaking about Nani not saying things like 'look, he does that like Cristiano…'.

"I want to focus on helping the team more, on getting good crosses and assists for my colleagues as well as getting shots on target. If you help the team then everything else follows."

"This can be my season," he added, "and I'm going to work every day for that."

I think it is fantastic to hear that, Nani does have the quality and skill, he just has to show that throughout a whole season not just one or two matches. The jury is still out on Nani but I would love to see him succeed and I think he will do.