Bebe included in Man United Champions League squad; Wayne Rooney not bothered by recent controversy
Bebe, the unknown Portuguese forward, whom Sir Alex Ferguson signed without even watching him play once, has been included in the Champions League squad for Manchester United. Manchester United has submitted a 25-man list to UEFA for this year’s Champions League. Owen Hargreaves has not been included in the list, as Ferguson said that he could not take a risk on a player that has had so many injuries. Hargreaves is currently in the USA for a major surgery and there is no certainty as to when he would play next.
At first it was believed that Bebe was also left out of the squad, which actually made the speculations surrounding his signing grow even more. He had finished in the 3rd tier of Portuguese football.
Bebe was later signed by Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes, but after just spending two months at the club, Sir Alex Ferguson sealed the deal for Bebe for 7 million pounds. At the time, Spanish giants Real Madrid were also believed to be interested in the services of the unknown Portuguese forward.
UEFA have now officially confirmed that Bebe is on the 25-man list submitted from Manchester United. The Red Devils play their first match of the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League against Rangers at old Trafford.
The young Portuguese prodigy is more likely to make his debut against Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup the week after the Champions League tie.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s top marksman Wayne Rooney has come under some controversy following the revelations made by British newspaper News of the World about his private life. United’s publicist Max Clifford has said that the tabloid news will not affect the striker in any way, and he would continue to play for club and country the way he has been.
Despite the unwanted news in the papers, Rooney is set to travel with the England team to Switzerland on Monday for the 2nd Euro qualifier.
Rooney’s England teammate James Milner said that Wayne is a strong character and he does not expect these ‘revelations’ to bother him. Max Clifford said that as long as Rooney keeps performing on the pitch and keeps knocking in goals, fans would have no issues with him.
Clifford said that Rooney is a player adored by fans for both club and country, and minor, petty issues like that should not harm him one bit. He said that for Manchester United fans he is an absolute idol and he can even get away with murder if he keeps scoring goals.
He said that the England manager Fabio Capello has also made it clear that it would have no bearing on Rooney’s international career, and he is a very important player for the team and the team needs him to be there.
Clifford went on to say that the controversy will also not affect the sponsorship deals with Rooney. He said that the English striker endorses a number of big brands such as Tiger Beer, Coca Cola and Nike, and neither of them has shown any worries.
Wayne Rooney is also a brand ambassador for EA Sports’ series of FIFA games. A spokesman for the company said that this is a personal matter for the player, and does not affect the company’s agreement with him. The statement by EA went on to add that they have been working with Rooney for the past 6 years and would continue to do so.
Clifford said that things like this are part and parcel of being a star, and a player of his stature should know that he cannot let himself get distracted by this.
The News of the World had reported that Rooney had been paying more than a thousand pounds a time to have s*x with a well known prostitute while Coleen (his wife) was pregnant with their first child.
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