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Happy Nani wants long United stay

Nani has scored 13 goals for Manchester United this season © Getty Images

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Nani has given Manchester United a boost ahead of the Manchester derby by ending speculation about his future and insisting Old Trafford "is my home".

While his side prepare for their pivotal clash against Premier League title rivals Manchester City on Monday, Nani has given everyone at United a timely lift by revealing his desire to pen a new long-term deal.

The 25-year-old midfielder joined the league leaders in the summer of 2007 from Sporting CP, and the Portuguese winger says he is realising his dreams in a United shirt.

He told the Sun: "I left Portugal for a great personal challenge and to improve as a player. There have been times when it's not been easy but they treat me well here and, step by step, I am fulfilling my dreams. Manchester United is my home."

Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus are known to be interested in the player, who in the summer will have two years left to run on his current contract. However, talks are thought to be already underway to tie Nani to the club until at least June 2016.

"The manager has immense faith in me and that's all that matters," Nani said. "My agent is negotiating with the club on a new deal and things are going very well. I hope at the end of the season an agreement will be reached."

Part of the reason for wanting to extend his Old Trafford stay is Sir Alex Ferguson, who Nani believes is the world's greatest manager.

He added: "He is a great coach. For me, the best in the world. But I have trembled in his presence when he hasn't been happy. I remember some games when we had won by two or three goals and he still wasn't happy. It seemed like we had lost. He's not someone you want to argue with."

City, three points behind United in the race for the title, welcome their neighbours to the Etihad Stadium on Monday and Nani has affirmed United are not interested in leaving their rivals with anything less than a win.

"We're not going to City in fear or living with pressure," he said. "Manchester United players are equipped to handle it. It has been a season of many ups and downs but our destiny still remains in our own hands. However, we won't be going looking for a draw - even though we find ourselves three points better off than City.

"It's not our mentality, it doesn't come into our thinking."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.