Nani Hopeful of Manchester United Return

Nani is hoping to catch the attention of Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal during his season-long loan spell at Sporting Lisbon.

The 27-year-old returned to the Portuguese capital as part of a deal which saw Marcos Rojo move to Old Trafford on a permanent basis, after being consigned to a peripheral role with the Premier League side.

And following an impressive performance in Sporting's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday, Nani wants to return to his best in order to make a successful return to United.

"I don't know [if I will go back]," he told reporters. "At the moment I just want to enjoy the football, I want to play, I want to be at my best and then let's see what happens in the future.

"But at the moment I am a Manchester United player, so I'm just here to get back to my best."

The Portugal international made just one appearance for United this season as a half-time substitute against Swansea City before being used as a makeweight in a deal which brought Rojo to English football.

After being a peripheral figure under Sir Alex Ferguson, Nani agreed a new five-year contract upon the appointment of David Moyes, however his opportunities failed to improve as he made just seven starts in the Premier league last term.

Nani's reputation among United fans has taken a battering during his seven-year spell with the club but Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes his return to Lisbon is linked to wanting to rediscover his finest form.

"Without wanting to enter into areas which aren't my own, it will have been the consequence of the transfer of Rojo to Man United," he said.

"What counts in practice is that Sporting have a player of great quality in the best years of his career.

"Perhaps his aim is not to stay at Sporting until the end of his career, but to relaunch it and return to Man United. He must be very motivated in this new spell."