Last night Manchester United signed – subject to a medical – 20 year old Tiago Manual Dias Correia, or Bebe if you want it on a shirt, for a reported £7.4m from Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes.
5 weeks ago, he was playing in the 3rd tier of Portuguese football, and he once represented Portgual in the homeless World Cup. Now he is set to play for the world’s most popular football club.
The 6’2 signing has surprised even the Youtube generation, scrambling for information and videos on him. They are scarce; from what little we at Stretford-End.com have seen – other than the references to Jason Lee with the dreadlocks – he is muscular, confident and packs a shot on him. However, no conclusions can be made just yet – the jury is still out on Chicharito. Even the recommendation from Fergie’s former right hand man Carlos Querioz doesn’t instantly placate those of us (99%) who have never even heard of him.
After the first question of “who” came “why haven’t we spent this money on another player?”, with Mesut Ozil – the player who we exclusively revealed will NOT sign for United – available at a rumoured £8m, it certainly would provoke a raised eyebrow. United have now spent approx £25m on re-inforcements which contradicts the “Fergie is skint” argument but with each signing, has made many people wonder about those constant “no value” comments regarding the transfer market.
Bebe’s arrival immediately raised questions on the immediate future of his soon-to-be teammates and even that of his own. Javier Hernandez’s lightning form and status as a new signing means he is almost as secure as Rooney; Dimitar Berbatov is in last chance saloon but his clever goal against Chelsea inspires some belief he might grab that opportunity. Kiko Macheda has been kept with the squad while Mame Diouf shipped out on loan with Danny Welbeck set to follow.
With Ferguson declaring satisfaction with his numbers up front, one is left to presume that either Michael Owen will be moved out on loan (recently rumoured to switch to Bristol City) or Bebe will be allowed to continue at his former club or elsewhere until January at the earliest. The signing alone – apparently won before Real Madrid got there – is certainly a “rags to riches” story, worthy of comparison to the famous film Slumdog Millionaire.
So, Bebe… the next Ronaldo or the next Manucho?
Regardless of whether he turns out to be a flop and regardless of whether we need another striker (the way things look at the moment, it seems not) good on him.
Hell of a story.
watch this video… seems to be a winger/attacking midfielder?
http://videos.sapo.pt/qAIGilBf7mdtNCLDaW6p
http://www.united-latest.com/1/post/2010/08/profile-bebe-uniteds-new-striker.html
it seems as if saf is going to deploy strikers in midfield that is why he is no bothering of purchasing any midfielders.
belive in fergie he known best……
i am damm sure SAF never spent 7mn this are the media figure not any official. we sign chincharito at 7 mn but all media shows amt is 8 mn dont worry sAF is good in bargaining
second point as it say have good vision and passing ability with very good physical attribute SAF may play him as attacking midfielder. you never knows abt Sir. may be he will our new scholes as we got new ole
believe my friend believe sir knows the best
poor mans balotelli i reckon
god forbid he’s another manucho, at least he is still a kid, manucho was 25 when we signed him, although that was on quiroz’ recommendation aswell
Bebe should be the next Ronaldo. God never leaves his people with no option. Having been on the street, God opened the opportunity for Manual to exploit his talent. There must be only one way for the 20 year old, that is upwards.
I’m shocked, we now have 8 strikers, Rooney, Berba, Owen, Macheda, Hernandez, Diouf, Welbeck and now Bebe, with Josh King (in my opinion the best of all the younger players) on the way up also. Wjats going on surely the money would be better spent on a top top midfielder to replace the aging giggs and Scholes???
http://videos.sapo.pt/qAIGilBf7mdtNCLDaW6p
He’s an att mid or winger in training… no where near ready for us his shot is weak but good skill and crossing ability. Sir Alex will work his magic BELIEVE
@ Mattie: Take out Owen for his inevitable injury, Diouf and Welbeck for loan deals and the fact that Bebe seems to be more of an all-purpose forward (i.e. attacker) rather than an out and out striker and it makes a LITTLE more sense.
What about the problems with the FIFA agent Gonçalo Reis? Man U will have an issue to use Bebe!