Manchester United Sign Bebe From Vitoria de Guimaraes

Manchester United has reached agreement with Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes for the purchase of 20-year-old forward BEBE (full name Tiago Manuel Dias Correia). According to the official web site of Vitoria Sport Clube de Guimaraes [ www.vitoriasc.pt ], Bebe is a flexible, all round forward who plays preferentially in the wide positions (right or left) but can also play as the central striker. Bebe is a Portugal under-19 International.

The 6ft 2in attacker is a virtual unknown and only signed a five-year deal with Vitoria de Guimaraes seven weeks ago on June 24 2010, but it was during the pre-season that scouts really began to take notice. Five goals in 14 pre-season games and a string of man-of-the-match displays marked down the all-rounder as one to watch. Bebe made his Vitoria debut on June 26 in their first pre-season friendly against Maritimo, coming on in the second half for 45 minutes of a 0-0 draw. On July 2, he played his second match for Vitoria with the first 45 minutes against the same opponents in a 2-0 defeat.

He played his next match on July 10 against Freamunde, again for 45 minutes in a 2-0 win. On July 14 he played another 45 minutes against the same opponents, and scored the opening goal in a 5-0 win using his strength to shrug off a defender before scoring. He also played a half in each of a 4-2 win against Groningen and a 5-3 defeat against Benfica (both in the City of Guimaraes Trophy), a 0-0 draw with Aves, and a 1-1 draw with newly promoted Beira-Mar in which he scored a superb second half equalizer.

He then starred, without scoring, in a 2-0 win against Oliveirense before netting in a standout performance in a 2-2 draw with Varzim. He rounded out the month with an hour - but no goals - in a 1-1 draw against Rio Ave. Bebe sealed his United move by impressing in a 1-0 friendly defeat against Paços de Ferreira, scoring the first in a 4-0 win against Bragança which was described as "an excellent individual goal," and again scoring the opener in a 2-2 draw against Tirsense. He ended his Vitoria career with five goals in 14 pre-season games and was widely reckoned to be the side's best player.

According to Portuguese daily A Bola, Bebe has been so impressive that Real Madrid were also chasing him. However, based entirely on the recommendation of Manchester United scouts as well as former United assistant manager and current Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz, Sir Alex Ferguson is bringing Bebe to Old Trafford. The Guardian reports that Manchester United will pay £7.4million (€9m euros) for Bebe, his buy-out clause, although the Club's web site says that the fee is undisclosed and that the transfer is subject to a medical later this week. Bebe will sign a five-year deal at Old Trafford.

Mon, 16 Aug 2010

The official web site of Manchester United [ www.manutd.com ] confirms that the deal for Bebe is now "done and dusted" with the medical and paperwork all completed. Bebe will officially be unveiled with fellow new signings Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez, at a press conference to be held tomorrow (Tuesday, 17 August 2010) at 2 PM BST.

PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Tiago Manuel Dias Correia (BEBÉ)
Position: Forward (Right, Left, Centre)
Nationality: Portuguese
Date of birth: 12/07/1990
Height: 1.90m Weight: 75 kg

Source: Vitoria Sport Clube de Guimaraes [ www.vitoriasc.pt ]

GAME LOG

26 June - Friendly - Vitória 0-0 Marítimo - 45 mins
2 July - Presentation to Sócios - Vitória 0-2 Marítimo - 45 mins
10 July - Friendly - Vitória 2-0 Freamunde - 45 mins
14 July - Friendly - Freamunde 0-5 Vitória - 45 mins, 1 goal
16 July - City of Guimaraes Trophy - Vitória 4-2 Groningen - 45 mins
18 July - City of Guimaraes Trophy - Vitória 3-5 Benfica - 45 mins
21 July - Friendly - Desportivo das Aves 0-0 Vitória - 45 mins
24 July - Friendly - Beira-Mar 1-1 Vitória - 45 mins, 1 goal
26 July - Friendly - Vitória 2-0 Oliveirense - 45 mins
28 July - Friendly - Varzim 2-2 Vitória - 90 mins, 1 goal
31 July - Friendly - Rio Ave 1-1 Vitória - 60 mins
4 August - Friendly - Paços de Ferreira 1-0 Vitória - 90 mins
7 August - Friendly - Bragança 0-4 Vitória - 45 mins, 1 goal
10 August - Friendly - Tirsense 2-2 Vitória - 45 mins, 1 goal

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[fattonyis]

he runs like he just stole 7.4 million pounds from manchester united :P

[realtalk293]

you guys are juding him on 7 appearances he has made for manunited :/ very stupid. in those 7 apearances he has scored 2 goals one in the leauge cup and 1 in europe. you idiot plastic manunited fans calling him rubbish are idiots. he is only 20 and has just come to the manunited team. he has only made 7 appearances which is not enough to grow as a player. he is still learning. ahh sometimes i see why other teams slate us manunited fan, some of you are realll big fools!!

[ahklee77]

He is very talented, but he needs more time to develop as a player.

[ashtiger33]

the crosses which bebe provides from right side ends up with the crowd on the left

hell of a talent O:)

[Lycode]

thank you for your amazing contribution to the team bebe, -7.4 million pounds

[chesterinoaussie]

@knightr7 If anything, the side needs a better box-to-box midfielder. Anderson, Fletcher and Carrick just aren't good enough in my opinion. They can do an alright job, but it's not enough. Put Vidic back into the mix and United have the best defence in the Premier League again. Keep Young and Nani (interchanging with Valencia) on the wings and United have the best wing play in the league again. Keep Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck and Berbatov firing and they have the best strikeforce in the league.

[knightr7]

@chesterinoaussie i think after the performance i have just seen we still need something....................

[chesterinoaussie]

@knightr7 Bebe is 21. Cleverley and Welbeck also had nothing to offer United last season while United had Scholes and such an array of strikers. Wing is actually one of United's best positions for depth. Nani, Young and Valencia all deserve to get in the squad every week, then you have Park and Giggs who can do a good job. Fabio and Rafael can also play wing decently. Bebe just isn't needed with all those wingers and forwards we have.

[knightr7]

@chesterinoaussie so what danny welbeck went out on loan last season so did cleverly, if he ca show himself out on loan thers still a spot for him in uniteds team he is only 20 and lets be honest united only have 2 good wingers now and thats not enough.

[chesterinoaussie]

@knightr7 Players are picked for the team not only by how they play in a game but how they perform in training. Fergie isn't stupid. If Bebe was pulling off incredible goals, crosses and skills in training, then he would get a game. He didn't impress at all, and went on loan to Besiktas.

[knightr7]

@chesterinoaussie hes played 6 games for united???????????? how cud u tell from that

[chesterinoaussie]

@knightr7 But Nani was good enough for the first team all the time- he wasn't great before which was frustrating, but Bebe isn't even close to that.