A “fairytale story” was how Sir Alex described the arrival of Tiago Manuel Dias Correia - better known as Bebe.

After a few years plying his trade at Portuguese third division club Estrela Amadora, Bebe signed for Vitoria de Guimaraes in July 2010. A mere five weeks later, he was putting pen to paper on a United contract.

A powerful, athletic player with raw potential was acquired by United without being viewed by Sir Alex. The boss admitted it was an impulse decision to sign him, following advice from the club's scouts in Portugal and from former assistant Carlos Queiroz.

Bebe made his senior debut in the Carling Cup win at Scunthorpe and his Premier League bow against Sunderland a couple of weeks later. His first goals for the club came in quick succession, in a Carling Cup victory over Wolves and a Champions League win at Bursaspor.

After his flirtation with the first XI, the Portuguese returned to hone his craft with Warren Joyce's Reserves, where he played regularly and bagged some spectacular strikes along the way, before making another start in the FA Cup victory against Crawley Town.

Having played a peripheral part in the Reds' 19th title triumph, Bebe was sent out on loan to Turkey's Besiktas, but the move soured when he quickly suffered a serious knee ligament injury. After a handful of appearances he returned to Manchester in the summer of 2012.

Bebe featured in the Reds' 2012/13 pre-season tour, and the next chapter of his incredible tale is still to be written.