Gone Bebe, Gone

[the count]

Portuguese police probe missing cash from Bebe's bizarre £7.5m Man United transfer​

By IAN LADYMAN​

PUBLISHED: 21:35 GMT, 13 April 2012 | UPDATED: 21:35 GMT, 13 April 2012​

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Rare sight: £7.5m flop Bebe in action for Man United​

Manchester United’s peculiar £7.5million transfer of misfit striker Bebe is being investigated by anti-corruption police in Portugal, it emerged on Friday night.​

It appears about £3m of the fee paid went missing. United’s decision to pay so much money for a virtual unknown raised eyebrows when they struck the deal with Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes in August 2010. Only 20 at the time, Bebe made just three starts for United - none in the league - before being loaned to Besiktas in Turkey last summer.​

He appeared out of his depth at Old Trafford, raising questions as to why United had made such an investment.​

Now it has emerged that Portuguese police are looking into the deal to find out where around £3m of the money has gone. Their anti-corruption department have scheduled hearings with various witnesses in Iberia.​

There is no suggestion that United did anything wrong and they have previously gone on record as saying none of the transfer fee went directly to an agent. On Friday night United declined to comment.​

Directors at Vitoria claimed at a board meeting 18 months ago that around three million euros went to Bebe’s agent, Jorges Mendes, as part of the deal. On Friday night, Mendes’ company Gestifute did not confirm or deny that police have been in touch. ​

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Bebe’s transfer was so unusual because he was playing for tiny Division Two club Estrela da Amadora and living in a homeless shelter only weeks before joining United.​

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he signed Bebe ‘blind’, having seen him play only on video. Former United No 2 Carlos Queiroz pointed Ferguson towards the tall striker after he scored 40 goals in six games during a street tournament.​

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Bebe went from earning £12,000 a year at Estrela to £12,000 a week at United. His former boss Jorge Paxaio told Sportsmail the player could have been signed for just £125,000 the previous year. ​

This season he has just started playing for Besiktas after rupturing knee ligaments last summer. He is expected to be sold by United - probably back to Portugal - this summer, to end one of the strangest transfers of modern times.​

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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2129517/Bebe-transfer-probed-Portuguese-police.html#ixzz1sZs3TnCp​

 

[Rosco]

*surprised*

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Can they get into any shit for this? If not, who cares. I hope all their signings are as bebe'tastic.

 

[Insignificance]

There clearly must be some involvment from the buyer who is paying a huge overprice here? And people still think they don't buy referees?

 

[Athens]

I hope it uncovers some sort of child porn/drug dealing/human trafficking/dog fighting/ivory smuggling ring that Ferguson is the centre of.

 

[the count]

I think there is a suspicion that it was a way of greasing the sweaty palms of the agent Mendes, so that he will act favourably towards Man U in the future or has done so in the past

 

[Rosco]

Everyone knew there was something dodgy about this at the time and at the best of times football agents apoear dodgy. I wonder if someone will get to the bottom of this.

 

[the count]

Isn't it the case that many clubs use agents to negotiate on their behalf with other clubs a player transfer

 

[gkmacca]

Ginsoak will be buying players after watching YouTube next.

 

[Rosco]

Isn't it the case that many clubs use agents to negotiate on their behalf with other clubs a player transfer

It does seem to happen, why it's necessary is another thing. I've always wondered wheter certain agents are pulling the strings in the transfer market. As in you can only sign particular players if you pay out ridiculoud sums to the middleman. We clearly don't play the game.

Mendes is Ronaldo's (and Mourinho's) agent. Probably Nani too. 3m would be a nice kickback for Mendes. Whats the odds he has some ownership stake in that club?

 

[kingjulian]

Would be funny if they got done for Money Laundering...

Usually the fines are hefty!

 

[doctor_mac]

Won't happen, but is clear as day that the deal was rotten.

 

[nealmac]

Class thread title. The count should have a job with the Star.

 

[the count]

Class thread title. The count should have a job with the Star.

Cheers I think
I am working hard at retaining my "Thread title of the Year" award.
And this year it might even be an original😉


And no awards ceremony woud be the same without Themn as it's compere.
Come back mate, the place ain't the same without you.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

The Downing transfer will be the next one they look at.

 

[Niall K]

The Downing transfer will be the next one they look at.

Was he homeless too ?

 

[doctor_mac]

The Downing transfer will be the next one they look at.

Lol

 

[nealmac]

Cheers I think
I am working hard at retaining my "Thread title of the Year" award.
And this year it might even be an original😉


And no awards ceremony woud be the same without Themn as it's compere.
Come back mate, the place ain't the same without you.

Yeah, I noticed Themn hasn't been around lately.

 

[Athens]

Cheers I think
I am working hard at retaining my "Thread title of the Year" award.
And this year it might even be an original😉


And no awards ceremony woud be the same without Themn as it's compere.
Come back mate, the place ain't the same without you.

Well he ever come back? I miss the big buffoon.

I've no idea what size he is.

 

[the count]

Well he ever come back? I miss the big buffoon.

I've no idea what size he is.

Yea, Themn is an integral part of the site and makes it the great place it is/was and it just isn't the same without him.
Not everyone loved him though even they wouldn't argue with what he contributed to the site.
I loved him and really hope he comes back.
Come on K, you know you want to!

 

[dmishra]

Why'd he go?

 

[the count]

Why'd he go?

I think he became frustrated by some of the views expressed on the site.
The same reason why other posters are leaving/posting less I guess.

 

[kingjulian]

I didn't realize there was a consistent view in this site...

Ya, generally there is a negative tone....but i don't think we'd agree on anything on this site.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

lol etc.

 

[Fabio]

He got banned for being aggressive to Hmmmm

He was warned, he persisted. His ban had finished but he's not returned.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

When he returns he should be greeted like a hero.

 

[dmishra]

When he returns, he should be greeted with a page-full of smilies.

 

[iseered]

<--- themn's biggest fan. come back to us!

 

[Athens]

Come back Themn

🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
🙂
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🙂

 

[Athens]

Come back Themn

🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
🙂
🙂
🙂
🙂
🙂
🙂
🙂

Was going to make a giant Themn out of smilies but got bored.