Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that Nani is not the sort of player who would dive to win a penalty.

Nani was at the centre of a penalty claim during United's 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday after he tangled with Jan Vertonghen in the area.

Match referee Chris Foy did not award a spot kick for the incident, a decision with which Ferguson disagrees.

He told reporters: "I think the one in the first half was a clear penalty kick, but maybe Nani made a meal of it and he didn't need to do that. He was clearly pulled back.

"Nani is not the type to dive, I know that. It was a penalty kick on Saturday. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. The linesman could have helped him but didn't."

The United boss also revealed at a pre-match press conference for Tuesday night's Champions League tie against Cluj that his squad is suffering with a virus that has affected a number of his senior players.