Former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has distanced himself from the controversial £7.4 million signing of Portuguese flop Bébé in 2010.
Questions were asked about why the Premier League giants would pay such a significant sum for a lower league player.
The 24-year-old came to England having not even appeared for Vitória Guimarães as he was signed by United just weeks after a free transfer move from Portuguese third division club Estrela Amadora.
Then United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Bébé was the first player he had signed without watching him in action, crediting Queiroz for convincing him to make the signing.
However, Queiroz, who was Portugal coach at the time, has set the record straight in an interview with FourFourTwo magazine.
He said: "Bébé was not even part of our scouting files for the national team of Portugal.
"He didn't exist in a system where nothing escaped us. So Bébé going to Man United took me by surprise.
"I called my coaches and asked them what was going on, why he didn't exist. I knew nothing about him."
Bébé made just two league appearances at Old Trafford before being sold to Benfica in the summer for £2 million after loan spells with Beşiktaş, Rio Ave, and Paços de Ferreira.
Questions were asked about why the Premier League giants would pay such a significant sum for a lower league player.
The 24-year-old came to England having not even appeared for Vitória Guimarães as he was signed by United just weeks after a free transfer move from Portuguese third division club Estrela Amadora.
Then United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Bébé was the first player he had signed without watching him in action, crediting Queiroz for convincing him to make the signing.
However, Queiroz, who was Portugal coach at the time, has set the record straight in an interview with FourFourTwo magazine.
He said: "Bébé was not even part of our scouting files for the national team of Portugal.
"He didn't exist in a system where nothing escaped us. So Bébé going to Man United took me by surprise.
"I called my coaches and asked them what was going on, why he didn't exist. I knew nothing about him."
Bébé made just two league appearances at Old Trafford before being sold to Benfica in the summer for £2 million after loan spells with Beşiktaş, Rio Ave, and Paços de Ferreira.
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