Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists no-one at the club have likened Nani to Cristiano Ronaldo. Nani struck twice in victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield yesterday.
"He is only in Ronaldo's shadow because he is Portuguese," said Ferguson. "That is the only link I can see. He was never in his shadow in my mind.
"He has always had great potential but some players take longer to mature than others. Ronaldo was an exception. He was an incredible footballer. He matured immediately, from 18 until he left us.
"Nani had a fantastic season last year. He was unfortunate that Antonio Valencia came in at a time when we needed a bit of freshness and a boost to the squad. But you have seen Nani's form in pre-season and again yesterday. He will start the season."
