Barcelona have resurrected their interest in Nani following the Portugal international's outstanding season for Manchester United but are likely to fail in any transfer attempt.
Now central to Sir Alex Ferguson's plans, the 24-year-old has established himself as United's most potent attacking force, creating 15 Premier League goals this season and scoring a further nine himself. Nani ignored Barcelona's overtures to sign an improved four-year deal last March and remains content with his current conditions at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has strengthened his position at Real Madrid following talks with club president Florentino Perez, further reducing the chances that the former Chelsea manager will return to English football at the end of this season.
Mourinho, who has been upset by the inefficiency of Madrid's internal organisation, has received assurances that the club's hierarchy will support his attempts to modernise as he aims to return both Spanish League title and the European Cup to the Bernabeu.
Last week Perez publicly backed Mourinho's attack on the Spanish fixture list, labelling it "an example of true 'Madridismo' to defend Real Madrid from what we believe to be unjust, irregular or arbitrary".
Sources close to Mourinho say that he will not leave Madrid of his own volition without winning at least one of those trophies there.
sports@thenational.ae
