Manchester United flop Bebe has recalled his incredible first encounter with Sir Alex Ferguson after the Red Devils legend wanted to bring him to Old Trafford.
Ferguson made a surprise move for Bebe in 2010 after United reportedly triggered the £7m release clause in his Vitoria de Guimaraes contract at the time.
Bebe initially signed for Portuguese side Vitoria de Guimaraes on a free after leaving Estrela da Amadora and caught Ferguson’s eye only five weeks after the move.
The 33-year-old Portuguese winger, who had attracted interest from Real Madrid, endured an ill-fated spell at Old Trafford and failed to make his mark at United.
Bebe was reduced to seven appearances overall for United’s first team and managed to score twice for the Red Devils during his disappointing run at the club.
The former United player was loaned out to Besiktas, Rio Ave and Pacos de Ferreira before he returned to his native homeland of Portugal with Benfica in 2014.
Bebe’s interaction with United legend Ferguson
Bebe arrived at Old Trafford alongside fellow 2010 summer signings Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling and had high expectations placed on his shoulders.
Ahead of his transfer to United, legendary ex-Red Devils manager Ferguson had not even met the former Portugal U-21s international in person or via a video call.
Ferguson’s former assistant Carlos Queiroz, who never won over one United legend, had reportedly urged the Scotsman to make a move for Bebe.
Bebe, who recently made an honest admission about his time at United, recalled his first encounter with Ferguson and what the 81-year-old Scot said to him.
“The first person I saw was [defender] Patrice Evra,” he told ESPN.
“He said hello. Then I saw Nani. But the most shocking thing was meeting Ferguson.
“I went into his office, and the first thing he did was grab my head, he gave me a hug and a kiss. He said to me: ‘From now on, you’re my child. I’m going to look after you.’ I was looking at him thinking, ‘Is this really happening?’
“The next day, I got to the dressing room. I was sat here, and then it was [Rio] Ferdinand. Anderson. [Wayne] Rooney. [Antonio] Valencia. Michael Carrick. Chicharito. Paul Scholes. [Ryan] Giggs. [Edwin] Van der Sar. They were all there.”
Bebe’s United spell will overshadow his career
Despite a flop spell at United, Bebe continued with his career in football and went on to sign for Rayo Vallecano in 2018 after two separate loan spells at the club.
The Vallecano player, who was loaned out to Real Zaragoza last season, admitted that he “felt a bit lost” after it emerged a “dream” move to United could happen.
“Imagine what was going through my head,” he said.
“From having nothing to being at the top. I felt a bit lost. I had just signed the contract, and we went for dinner.
“On the television screen in the restaurant, I saw ‘Bebe signs for Manchester United for 10 million euros.’ The restaurant was full. A kid walks past, he looks at me, and starts shouting ‘He’s here! He’s here!’
“I called my grandmother. I told her, and she started to cry. I called my friends, and they thought it was a joke. It was a dream.”
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