The 25-year-old is widely acknowledged as one of the Old Trafford outfit’s worst signings of a generation, with United splurging £7 million on the attacker.
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Bebe’s move to United five years ago was a shock give his lack of experience at the top level and he failed to cope with the demands that were thrust upon him.
However, over a four-year period on the historic English club’s books he only made two Premier League appearances and was reduced to a joke figure in the eyes of his own club’s supporters and that of others. “One day I was training and was suddenly told to go, I would sign a five-year contract. I didn’t know if it was a joke”, Bebe said. When I arrived I was there with the best in the world. “It took me a while, taking deep breaths the first week, but I got used to it”.
Bebe bounced around after struggling at United, playing on loan at Besiktas, Rio Ave and Pacos de Ferreira, before he was picked up by Benfica, loaned to Cordoba in 2015 and, for this season, Rayo, at Jemez’s request.
“I came there without much of a football education, just what I was born with: talent, speed, strength… but you needed more”.
Former Manchester United winger Bebe admits that he enjoyed his time at Old Trafford, despite it being only a short stay. “If a big club signed me now it’d be different”.
“In an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, Bebe said when asked who his idol was: “[Didier] Drogba, but also Cristiano because he’s Portuguese. I wasn’t there long, but I enjoyed it.
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“[Rio] Ferdinand, [Ryan] Giggs, [Wayne] Rooney…a few months earlier I saw them on TV and then I was running, jumping, talking with them”.
