Manchester United sign striker Bebe
Manchester United have signed striker Bebe from Vitoria de Guimaraes in Portugal. The 20-year-old has arrived at Old Trafford for a £7.4m fee.
Bebe had been recommended by Portugal national team coach Carlos Queiroz, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant. The striker has made a rapid rise to the English Premier League as he only joined Vitoria de Guimaraes five weeks ago from Portuguese third division side Estrala da Amadora. United paid the buy-out clause stipulated on Bebe’s five-year contract to secure his services.
He has become United’s third arrival of the summer after Chris Smalling joined from Fulham and Mexico international Javier Hernández signed from Chivas de Guadalajara. The move also takes the club’s summer transfer bill to above the £25m while Ferguson is also said to be hopeful of signing 2010 FIFA World Cup star Mesut Ozil from Werder Bremen.
Bebe is said to be a speedy striker who is technically gifted. He is also reportedly right-footed and has strong heading ability while he measures 6ft 2ins. However, his capture comes as somewhat of a surprise given that Ferguson had stated he was happy with his squad going into the new English Premier League season. He may be seen as one for the future among the Old Trafford hierarchy, but the sizable fee paid for a relatively unknown player has raised a few eyebrows.
Ferguson was said to have met the player for the first time on Tuesday after flying to Portugal to be a witness for Queiroz in a disciplinary matter. The youngster will be competing against the likes of Wayne Rooney, Hernández, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Federico Macheda to feature in the United first team this season, and will not have to be named in the club’s 25-man league squad due to his age.
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