By Chris Wright
He’ll more than likely forever be a punchline in the eyes of English fans, but Manchester United exile Bebe has scored an impressive (not to mention crucial) 12 goals in 27 appearances for Pacos de Ferreira in the Portuguese Primeira Liga this season, almost single-handedly saving the club from relegation and also finding himself tipped for a surprise inclusion in the Portuguese World Cup squad in some quarters before the final cut was announced.
Pacos found themselves slogging away in the lower recesses of the Primeira Liga for most of the season and eventually ended up in 15th place (of 16) meaning that they entered into the relegation play-off against CD Aves, who finished fourth in the second tier, to battle it out for top-tier status.
Having drawn the first leg 0-0, Pacos went on to win the second 3-1 and duly secure their place at the top table for 2014/15, with Bebe opening the scoring in the 25th minute with a delightfully clipped free-kick…
Nicely done, but hardly the man’s finest work this season – with the 23-year-old winger scoring an even smarter set-piece against Belenenses a couple of months ago…
And perhaps his finest moment in a Pacos shirt: his spectacularly set-up corker against FC Arouca back in March…
Now, we’re not for a moment suggesting that Bebe is looking anywhere near worth the vast money United speculatively spluffed on him three years ago, but the man’s obviously in form and doing his best to rectify his reputation.
Fair play to him.