I’m ex-Man Utd star who Fergie signed without watching, now I’m starring at Afcon after changing country
SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S signing of Bebe for Manchester United in 2010 is one that continues to live on in infamy.
United paid Portuguese third division side Vitoria de Guimaraes £7.4million to sign the winger – despite Ferguson admitting he had never watched him play.
Bebe’s signature was instead suggested by Ferguson’s trusted confidante and former assistant Carlos Quieroz.
The signing never really worked out, with Bebe playing just seven times for the club before being sold to Benfica.
He then spent some wilderness years jumping from club to club on loan and rarely playing, including at the likes of Benfica and Cordoba.
But at 33 now, Bebe finally appears to have found his feet and is experiencing a career renaissance.
The winger has been playing regularly for Madrid-based side Rayo Vallecano, who are currently 11th in LaLiga.
The club were, until last season managed by Bourenmouth manager Andoni Iraola.
And his performances there have seen him earn a call-up to Cape Verde to represent them at Afcon this year.
Bebe’s story before becoming a footballer is a remarkable one, spending much of his childhood in Portugal growing up in a homeless shelter.
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He was still living in shelters just prior to his move to United in 2010.
And having grown up in Portugal, he did initially represent them at international level.
But he was allowed to switch to Cape Verde in 2022 after not appearing in the nation’s first team.
Since then he has made 11 appearances for their first-team, scoring four goals.
And Cape Verde got off to the dream start in their opening Afcon game last night when they beat Ghana 2-1 thanks to a last minute goal from substitute Garry Rodrigues.
The side have their work cut out in getting out of the group, with Mohamed Salah‘s Egypt the favourite to get out of Group B – but beating Ghana is a huge first step.