When Manchester United announced that they had signed the Portuguese striker for £7.4 million in August 2010, there was confusion aplenty around the football world. Relatively unknown even in his own homeland, Bebe was plucked from obscurity by Sir Alex Ferguson - who admitted that he had never even seen the striker play before agreeing to sign him.

The move to Old Trafford completed a fairytale ascent for Bebe as he signed for one of the world's biggest clubs just 12 months after competing in the 2009 European Street Football Festival for CAIS, the organisation responsible for Portugal's Homeless World Cup team . Bebe was himself raised in an orphanage and spent some time on the streets - making his rags to riches story all the more remarkable.

After impressing for amateur side Loures, Bebewas snapped up by Portuguese third division club Estrela Amadora in summer 2009 and was soon attracting the interest of some bigger clubs, including Vitoria de Guimaraes - who swooped to sign him on a pre-contract agreement in January.

Having watched him plunder four goals in seven pre-season games for his new club, and with a glowing recommendation from Carlos Queiroz, United took a £7.4 million gamble on the striker - handing Vitoria a fast and rather large profit in the process.

Strengths: At 6ft 3in, he is physically imposing but possesses the cliche 'good touch for a big man', as well as pace and a powerful shot.

Weaknesses: Completely untested at the highest level, Bebe has only played professionally in the Portuguese third division

Career High: Sealing a move to Manchester United just 12 months after beginning his professional football career.

Career Low: Playing at the 2009 European Street Football Festival – Bebe scored 40 goals in six games but his side, CAIS, failed to progress beyond the second group stage.

Style: Quick, powerful striker, who is capable playing up top on his own,a s a support striker, or on either flank.

Quotes: "Bebe's two-footed, very quick, so the raw materials are there. And other clubs were starting to hover so we had to make a quick decision and said 'why don`t we go for it?' He's young and we're good at working with young players, so thatis why we went for him." Sir Alex Ferguson speaks about his new striker.

Trivia: Bebe is the third player of Cape Verdean descent to play for United, after Nani and former striker Henrik Larsson.