MANCHESTER UNITED MISFIT Bebe has departed the club four years after arriving for a reported £7.4m.
The Portuguese attacker, who Alex Ferguson famously bought having never seen him play in the flesh, signed from Vitoria de Guimaraes only weeks after joining them in 2010.
United had reportedly been told by super agent Jorge Mendes that Real Madrid were chasing the raw youngster and controversially shelled out somewhere in the region of £7m — a transfer that would go down as one of Alex Ferguson’s worst in 26 years at the helm.
In just seven appearances for United, Bebe failed to impress and often looked out of his depth at the top level.
A loan move to Beskitas in 2011 proved unsuccessful as he suffered a cruciate injury before falling out with the Turkish club for breaking a curfew.
However, after a six month-spell with Rio Ave in his homeland, the former Portugal U21 international spent last season on-loan with Pacos de Ferreira, where he scored 12 goals in 27 appearances and played in the Europa League.
Now Portuguese champions Benfica have taken a punt on the 24-year-old and will pay up to €3m with United due to receive 50% of any sell-on fee.
“I am very happy to sign with Benfica,” Bebe said. “I have wanted to play for Benfica for some time.
“Benfica are a great club. Now I hope to improve with him [Jorge Jesus] and help Benfica to win titles.”