Former Manchester United forward Bebe recounted his departure from Old Trafford as “the best moment” of his life. The £7.2million signing from Vitoria in 2010 left many surprised, especially since the young player had only just joined Vitoria after being discovered in Portugal’s lower leagues.
His stint at United was far from successful; with a mere six professional matches under his belt prior to his signing, he made just seven appearances and scored two goals – one against Wolves in the League Cup and another against Bursaspor in the Champions League group stage. Following several loan spells, Bebe permanently left in 2014 for Benfica, which he described as a significant relief.
Speaking to Goal in 2018, he explained: “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 added: “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?'” On his eagerness to leave, he confessed: “Every day I called my agent to ask him to get me out. It was a bad time.
“When you do not play, even if you are at a great club, then you are not happy, so why continue? 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.”
Bebe, who was deserted by his parents and raised in an orphanage, also admitted he doesn’t entirely regret joining the club. In a heartfelt account, he said: “I can’t regret something that has given me so much food, that changed my life and the life of my family
“United gave me everything. That’s where everything started for me. I could have a car, a house, I could buy things that I couldn’t have bought before. I could help my family and friends in things they couldn’t do. I do not regret anything. It was a very good decision from me and my agent.
“If I had the mentality then that I have today, I would definitely still be there. I would be in a team like that.
“But I had a different childhood from the others, and the attitudes and thoughts I had were different. That did not help me at all, not that I regret it. But now I would tell my younger self to train more, to be more concentrated, to be more professional.
Now aged 34 and carving out a life in Spain, Bebe is currently playing for Racing de Ferrol in the second tier.
