Sir Alex Ferguson made some questionable signings for Manchester United during his time as manager.
From the likes of Kleberson, David Bellion and Massimo Taibi – there have certainly been some shockers. But one that was truly an enigma at Old Trafford had to be the signing of Bebe.
In just 18 months the 20-year-old went from playing for his local club Loures, to making a £7m move to the champions of England.
He is regarded as one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s worst signings ever – but what happened to him?
Bebe scores late wondergoal for Rayo Vallecano
Well, as of right now? Bebe will be top of the world.
He just scored a dramatic last-minute wondergoal for his current side Rayo Vallecano against Real Sociedad.
The 33-year-old winger was introduced into the frame in the 85th minute and took just six to get on the scoresheet.
The Cape Verde international cut inside from the left wing and unleashed a cannon into the bottom left corner from range, rescuing a point for his side.
But how did he get to this point?
Bebe’s Journey After Leaving Manchester United
Bebe’s arrival at Manchester United was one of the most surprising transfers in the history of the club
Sir Alex Ferguson took a leap of faith in the then-20-year-old winger – despite little to no senior footballing experience.
Bebe, naturally, struggled to establish himself in the first team, making just seven appearances for the club during the 2010-2011 season… yet winning a Premier League title.
Loan Spells
To gain experience away from Manchester – Bebe was loaned out to various clubs during his time at Old Trafford. His loan spells included stints at Beşiktaş, Rio Ave, and Pacos de Ferreira.
These moves did get the winger some more game time, but he still struggled – which meant only one inevitable possibility for him.
Inevitable exit from Manchester United
In 2014, Manchester United decided to part ways with Bebe. He was transferred to Portuguese club Benfica, where it was hoped that he could revive his career.
Unfortunately, it once again didn’t really work out, and he was soon loaned out to Spanish side Cordoba.
The Journeyman
After his time at Benfica and various loan spells, Bebe embarked on a bit of a journeyman career.
He had many short stints with clubs in Spain, England, and Turkey. His nomadic career took him to many different clubs – until something finally clicked.
Revitalised in Spain
In a surprising turn of events, Bebe found his place with Spanish club Rayo Vallecano. His performances helped the club secure promotion to La Liga, and he became a key figure in their squad.
This period marked a resurgence in Bebe’s career, as he finally began to fulfil some of the potential that had once captured the imagination of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Bebe redeemed what could have been a bad career
Bebe’s journey after leaving Manchester United was a bit of a rollercoaster – but it’s actually quite heartwarming to see he finally found a place to thrive.
His time at Old Trafford may have been brief and unsuccessful, but his refusal to give up has given him a fantastic redemption arc story.
We wish Bebe all the best in the latter stages of his career.
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