The Portuguese winger helped the Red Devils conquer Europe during his first season of the club and rates it has finest achievement of his Old Trafford career.

Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, Nani – who also won four Premier League titles at United – said: "The Champions League is incomparable – it stands in a category of its own.

"We went through the streets of Manchester on an open-top bus, touring the city, which was overflowing with joy. Seeing the fans celebrating like that – singing, thanking us – was genuinely beautiful."

Nani also recalled the "delicate" penalty he converted in the final against Chelsea in Moscow knowing that the trophy would have gone to the Blues had he missed from the spot.

He said: "It was a delicate moment. Your whole life flashes through your mind during those few metres from the halfway line to the penalty spot. The pressure is obvious, especially when you know there's no margin for error.

"I knew I had to make a decision, not hesitate, and hit the ball with confidence. Petr Cech was a huge goalkeeper – he even guessed which way I'd shoot and got a touch, but thankfully it went in and the story had a happy ending."

Nani hailed the team effort that helped United to European glory.

He said: "We didn't win thanks to me. We won because of the team, because of Edwin van der Sar, who saved Nicolas Anelka's penalty, and because of all the others who took their penalties and scored.

"That season we were very united as a group. Anyone could miss, but there were always others ready to lift you up. That's what made that moment so special."