10 Man Utd Players Who Did Nothing For Club (But Excelled For Their Country)

8. Manucho

For Manchester United, he was a non-entity. Had he not arrived for pittance, he might have raised the same questions as Portuguese misfit Bebe did when he was signed for £7 million in 2010. Having joined the club on a three-week trial, he subsequently penned a three-year contract in January 2008 - little did the 24 year old Angolan know that he would pull on the famous red jersey just once. Having failed to obtain a work permit, Manucho was forced out on a loan spell to Greek side Panathinaikos for the remainder of the season before returning to the club in the summer. By then, Manchester United had been granted the work permit they needed and their unknown quantity from Angola appeared as a substitute in a Carling Cup game against Middlesbrough. A failed loan spell at Hull City was swiftly organised, before the African was bundled out the Old Trafford door in the summer of 200. Not a tear was shed. Just what made Sir Alex Ferguson dip into the market for this relative unknown? Well, apart from his €˜one in two€™ goalscoring record for Angolan club Petro Atletico, he was proving to be one of the most consistent international goalscorers in Africa. To this date, Manucho is one cap shy of a half-century for his country, and has 22 goals to back up his contributions. A consistent performer at the African Cup of Nations, Manucho has in the past been included in the €˜Tournament Best XI€™, and finished as the tournament€™s top-scorer.
Contributor
Contributor

Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future. Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.