Manchester United winger, Nani, is crying out for Sir Alex Ferguson to show him some faith in the wake of the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga. Nani plays in a similar position as Ronaldo did when he started his United career. Due to the prominence of the United attack Nani has never been given an extended run in the side and he believes that Ronaldo’s departure could signal a revival for his own career.

It would be very easy for Sir Alex Ferguson to take the £80 million he is about to get and go off on a massive spending spree in order to try and replace someone who was clearly the club’s best player. All Nani is asking for is to be shown a bit of trust and respect that he can step in and do a job.

After all we have on a few occasions seen that Nani can score just as good goals as Ronaldo ever did. However, these do not come at the same consistency because Nani has never been given an extended run in the side. This is all he is asking for and if he does get a chance then it could see him flourish into the player that United knew he could be when they signed him a couple of seasons back.

Nani said: “Ronaldo was a very important player for us but now my opportunity has come. The time has come (for Manchester United) to put their trust in me. It puts a new value on Ronaldo. We are talking about an excellent player, so I think it (the fee) is fair. He deserves everything that has happened to him considering what he has accomplished in recent years. Real Madrid is a great club and I wish him luck.”

The whole story relates back to the fact that United have a strong enough squad to be able to cope with Ronaldo’s loss. On the one hand they will definetely miss him because he was so talented and scored so many goals but on the other hand they have plenty of talent to cope. Nani is just one example of a number of talented players United have that would walk into the first team of another Premier League club.

Although United are likely to take some of the money to go and buy another big name star or two it will help Nani develop in his career. In an ironic sort of way United probably had too many good players for the Portuguese winger to be able to make a significant impact and now that Ronaldo has gone it opens up a first team place and could allow greater quality to grow.

Nani would be the first person to say that he wishes Ronaldo had never had to leave but he won’t be upset by the fact that he may now get a bigger chance in the side. Regardless of whether United will bring in some high calibre players or not, Nani now has an opportunity to prove to his manager and the club that they made the right decision and they can cope quite easily.

Middlesbrough could take one step closer to being relegated from the Premier League in today’s mid-day kick off as they face a Manchester United side looking to push on for yet another domestic crown.

United look set to name a weaker side as they prepare for Tuesday’s vital Champions League encounter, but it is a game they would like to win to keep the pressure on their title contenders, Liverpool.

Sir Alex Ferguson has voiced his frustration at having an early kick off after a mid-week European tie, but the United squad looks near to full strength with only Rio Ferdinand ruled out with a rib injury.

Ferguson said: “You’d think that people in offices think about it but when you shake hands with the devil you pay the price.”

The early kick off will force Fergie to field a number of fringe players and maybe give starts to right back Rafael Da Silva, central defender Johnny Evans as well as midfielders Darren Gibson and Nani. Wes Brown may also get a look in after a long spell out with injury.

Middlesbrough currently sit second bottom of the table and manager, Gareth Southgate, will have to do anything he can to get some vital points on the board. However, it seems unlikely that whichever 11 United have on the pitch, they may just have too much quality for Boro to save their skin.

Club captain, Emanuel Pogatetz is a doubt after picking up a knock in training, but French under 21 midfielder, Didier Digard could feature although the game may be a little too soon for him.

A victory for United will seem them solidify their position at the top of the table. It is unlikely that Sir Alex will be satisfied with anything less than a victory at the Riverside stadium as he continues his pursuit of Liverpool’s historic record of domestic success.

A defeat for Boro will see them solidified in their position at the root of the table and could mean that the club are almost certain to play Championship football next season. However, they will not get a better chance to beat United than today. The Champions League will obviously be on the mind of the United boss so Boro have to be on top from the first whistle if they are to have any chance of victory.

Their good record against United in recent encounters will buoy Middlesbrough but the past is rendered irrelevant with the importance of this game for the Tyneside club. They have pulled off good results against Liverpool and Arsenal at home so United would be wrong in thinking that the game is a formality as Boro look set to be resilient and scrap for whatever they can.

United will want to win this one as much as any other game. With this attitude in Ferguson’s mind it will be an uphill task for Middlesbrough to get anything more than a point. The importance of the match could make the Boro players raise their game but it is unlikely that they will be able to overhaul the quality and squad strength the United ultimately possess

Reports have emerged this morning suggesting that Liverpool and Manchester United are likely to slug it out in a possible transfer war this summer in order to gain the services of Tottenham Hotspur winger, Aaron Lennon.

Lennon’s performances have slowly been getting more consistent and he has been one of the first names to be put down each week by Harry Redknapp. However, these improved performances could back fire for Spurs as they now look set to receive a number of bids for one of their best players.

Lennon has also been in and out of the England side under manager Fabio Capello but looks set to finally hold down his place as his end of season form continues to get better and better.

Manchester United will want to sign the winger as it will allow the transition of Cristiano Ronaldo into a striker to be completed. With the retirement of Ryan Giggs also likely to happen in the next couple of seasons as well as the inexperience of the Portuguese star, Nani, he could be just the player that Sir Alex Ferguson is looking to bring in.

Liverpool also have a strong case as they don’t have an out and out candidate to fly up and down the right flank in every game. Numerous players have often done the job as manager, Rafa Benitez, often draws criticism for playing Steven Gerrard out there and out of position from the middle, which is undoubtedly his best spot.

If a bidding war breaks out then United may well just have the edge but this depends on the future of one or two of their players. If Carlos Tevez decides to pack his bags and move to Spain then it could in effect finance a bid for Lennon making the move a virtual certainty. However, Fergie may want to replace a striker for a striker, which would pave the way for Liverpool to make a bid for a player that they desperately need.

Spurs are reportedly asking around the £20 million mark for Lennon which, is a price United have a better chance of raising. Liverpool will have to sell first to have any realistic chance to snatch him but the players that will make way from the Liverpool squad look likely to be equally realistic to their cause causing Benitez a massive headache.

Harry Redknapp won’t want to let Lennon leave as he has already targeted a Champions League spot for next season. However, football continues to prove that every player has their price and based on the assumption that Manchester City won’t sneak in on the move and offer a stupid sum of money for Lennon then their city rivals, United, look like the most obvious destination for Lennon.

No doubt Liverpool will have a good go at buying him but the Berbatov affair showed that regardless of any amount of late bids once Sir Alex gets his nose in and is interested then the player he targets is rarely persuaded to go elsewhere. Lennon could well be wearing a United shirt at the start of next season.