Nani: I refused Carragher's apology as he'd done the same to me before

(GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United's Nani has said he refused to accept Jamie Carragher's apology for the tackle which he feared had ended his season at Anfield because it was the second bad challenge from the Liverpool defender in as many seasons.

Nani, who said the Football Association should be empowered to issue retrospective action in cases like the Carragher tackle, has been mocked by Liverpool fans for crying on the pitch after the tackle but said he wept as he was overcome by the thought his season was over.

Nani issued a fairly rare tweet on Tuesday to express surprise at reports that he was ready to leave Old Trafford for Italy, and also reiterated his incredulity when speaking after the 2-1 win over Marseilles which sent his club into tomorrow's Champions League quarter-final draw.

Nani said of Carragher: "He came to apologise to me but I said I was not happy when he 'did' me. If you ask anyone in football after they have suffered a tackle like that, they are not going to accept an apology – especially as it was the second year he took me out." Nani may have been talking about an injury sustained in the October 2009 Anfield game. "I was not happy because when there's a tackle like that, the player should be sent off," he added. "I want referees to pay more attention when players make tackles like that.

"I think [the FA must be able to issue a retrospective red.] The referee afterwards said he saw my leg. It could have ended my season. The first time I looked at my leg, I was thinking, 'The season is finished for me now'. That's why I was crying."

Liverpool fans, sceptical about the speed of Nani's recuperation, also point to his ability to walk to the referee, demanding a dismissal, after the tackle. "I felt the pain straight away," Nani insisted. "But I was in shock, I wanted to show to the ref [what he'd done]. If I'm not going to be able to play he has to give the red card [for a tackle like that]. He quickly gave the yellow card. Then I showed him my leg and you could tell on his face [that he thought he should have given a red card]."

Wayne Rooney has also unequivocally insisted he will stay beyond the summer. "I signed a new contract to stay here and unless I'm ever not wanted then I'll be staying here, that's for sure," he said. "I made a mistake by saying I wanted to leave but I've committed my future to United and I'm happy, my family are happy so there's no reason for me to move elsewhere."