If we thought the signing of Hernandez this summer was surprising then the arrival of Bebe has more than trumped that. While Hernandez showed in the World Cup and in pre-season that United have unearth themselves another gem, what should we make of our new £7.4m signing Tiago Manuel Dias Ferriera?
Reading the forums there seems to be a mixed response to his arrival. While the anti-Glazer brigade show their discontent and believe that due to our finances we have had to lower ourselves to moving for relative unknowns; others have expressed delight and excitement at the prospect of what Bebe will bring to the table in the final third. I personally find myself somewhere in between, because for every gamble we have taken on the likes of Solskjaer and say Hernandez, we have had the likes of Mame Diouf come through.
It is rumoured that it was Carlos Queiroz who alerted Sir Alex of his abilities and versatility. While our former assistant has rarely failed with his past recommendations, you do wonder whether a player whose only experience has come in the Portuguese third division can make an immediate impact in the Premier League, or whether United will need to farm him out on loan in order to get notable experience before moving in and around the first team squad at Old Trafford. Bebe’s arrival certainly represents a risk, but it could prove one that could ultimately save the club millions in the future.
Has Sir Alex pulled another rabbit out of the hat, or given the financial state of the football club is it simply a gamble that we now have to take in the transfer market as we are priced out from more established names?