Being Manchester United's second or third choice winger was not on Nani's radar back in 2014.
The 29-year-old, now with Spanish club Valencia, was told by incoming manager Louis van Gaal that he would not be featuring as an important figure in the first-team for season 2014/15.
The previous campaign, Nani had struggled to convince former boss David Moyes that he was worthy of a spot in the starting XI and feared the same would occur again so made the call to go on loan to former club Sporting Lisbon.
Nani told The Guardian of his chat with van Gaal: "He told me that, if I wanted to stay to fight for a position, then good but I would not be his first option or maybe even the second.
"I said: 'No. I have been here for many years, I have been very important to this club and I think it's time to decide.'
"I wanted to play every game in the starting XI."
Nani, who is preparing for Valencia's season opener against Las Palmas on Monday night, then flourished back in his homeland of Portugal before leaving United permanently for Fenerbahce last summer prior to his shift to the Mestalla in July.
