From the struggles of being homeless to the Theatre Of Dreams, Bebe’s transfer to Manchester United in 2010 was originally labelled the stuff of dreams. 

He penned a lucrative contract with one of the world’s biggest football clubs and was earning big money.

The relatively unknown winger also received a £500,000 signing on fee when he joined Old Trafford, which was paid out in five £100,000 installments.

Not to mention the fact he received significant bonuses, including Premier League, Champions League and domestic competition fees.

But it quickly turned sour for Jorge Mendes’ client.

The winger made just two senior appearances for Manchester United in his short spell at Old Trafford and was quickly dispatched to Besiktas, Rio Ave and Pacos de Ferreira on loan spells between 2010 and 2014.

It was an uncertain time for the winger, and Bebe has since spoken about his time in the North West in an emotional interview with GOAL.

“I remember that I was going for a United game with the youth team, and my agent called me and told me I had been sold to Benfica. It was the best moment of my life.

“I am a ‘Benfiquista’, it was a dream to play there because all my friends and my family supported Benfica. I did not sleep that day! I spent the whole day awake.”

Bebe would eventually earn a move to Portuguese giants Benfica in 2014 after three loan spells elsewhere.

It was a case of ‘what could have been’ at Old Trafford and the 30-year-old spoke about how he thought interest from United was a joke.

“It wasn’t that [I didn’t believe in myself], I just know what life is like and I think anyone would have the same thought as me,” he explains.

“If you are playing in the third or fourth division in Portugal and suddenly one of the best teams in the world calls you, I think anyone would think ‘Can this actually be true?’

“I felt that way for a week or two, thinking that they were joking with me. When I signed, I didn’t go to England but instead spent four days in Portugal. And I still thought they were kidding.

“I went to Carrington, I met all the players for the first time but I still thought that it was a lie!

“But the moment I spoke with Ferguson, that was when I thought: ‘finally I am here’. I started believing it in my head on that day, it took a lot to believe it!”

There was a strange story behind the circumstances of Bebe’s arrival at Old Trafford from Vitoria de Guimaraes, as he had only signed for the Portuguese Primera Liga team five weeks previously from third tier side Estrela da Amadora, who couldn’t afford to pay his wages.

Bebe’s journey in football is far from over as he currently plays in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano, but his time at Manchester United will never, ever be forgotten for all the wrong reasons.

source:- sportbible