Anderson relishing Reds challenge

May 31, 2007

NEW United signing Anderson is determined to make his mark at Old Trafford in order to fulfil a lifelong dream.

The 19-year-old Brazilian, who has been playing for Porto, has signed for Sir Alex Ferguson's outfit along with Sporting Lisbon's Portuguese winger Nani in a deal which is estimated to cost around £30million.

And the midfielder, who has been included in Brazil's squad for the Copa America in Venezuela next month, is excited at the prospect of linking up with the Premiership champions.

"I will work in the same way as I did in Porto, or even better if possible because I want to give my all to my dream," Anderson told the website of Gestifute, his agent's company.

"I acknowledge my value and I just hope everything goes well. I am prepared for everything. I am so motivated."

Porto chairman Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa believes Anderson will be a great success at Manchester United and will form devastating partnerships with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

However, he also bemoans the serious knee injury which, in his view, restricted Anderson's effectiveness for the Portuguese champions.

Highly rated

The highly-rated star has only been able to feature in 15 games this season after a reckless challenge by Benfica's Konstantinos Katsouranis way back in October forced him to the sidelines.

"I wish him happiness at Manchester United, he will have a great career there," said Da Costa.

"If he had stayed in Portugal we could not guarantee a similar challenge would never have happened again," he said, referring to the Katsouranis tackle.

"I am convinced it will not happen in the Premiership. English football is tough but not wicked."

Anderson joined Porto in January 2006 from Brazilian side Gremio, and has gone on to help the club win back-to-back SuperLiga titles.

United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz believes Anderson and Nani will combine with the club's already blossoming youngsters to form the basis of the Red Devils' future generation.

"It is a significant investment in Manchester United's prospects for the next 10 years," Queiroz told TVI television channel.

"It's worth imagining a forward line with Rooney, Ronaldo, Anderson and Nani, these are players with enormous creativity.

"It's an attraction being able to develop their abilities. I have worked with young players many times and their potential is impressive.

"These signings mean the end of a long observation process. They are players who correspond to the club's intentions. They are young and have plenty of potential and talent."

What do you think? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (30) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Paulie (31/05/2007 at 16:03)

i am excited. please give them time to bed in, ron took a while to adjust fully.

JonyB-), North Staffs (31/05/2007 at 16:12)

I've seen the videos on Utube and hes obviously got skill in droves but what i really like is the sounds coming from him - Passion and desire to get better and to do well. Sounds like a man, plays like a man and yet not a man in years. A lad with his feet firmly onthe floor and the footballing world at his feet if you see what great brazillian players/coaches say about him - strong in posession, quick feet and hugely skillful(surely they Can't ALL be wrong!)
He'll be no Veron (an excellent player completely in the wrong league)
Can't remember being this excited about a preseason since the days we signed Ruud and Veron. C'mon UTD!!!

Mick, Dublin (31/05/2007 at 16:13)

In the same interview he talked about growing up dreaming about playing for United. It's kids of his age ,who started following football in the 90s, that will have had a massive impression made on them by United, under Fergie.

Which probably makes them JCL glory-hunters, but when they're as talented as Anderson, frankly who cares?!?

Steve, Glossop (31/05/2007 at 16:46)

Fair play to CQ his comments show a clear vision of the team & methinks the likelihood is that Saha is on his way though personally I'd sooner Smith went.

Michio, County Louth (31/05/2007 at 17:21)

Took me a while to work out that JCL meant Johnny-come-lately, boy I can be stupid sometimes (don't all agree at once).

What cheers me up the most is the huge difference in this boy's attitude from Mikel Obi, (Obi Mikel, whatever). That left a sour taste, this time I just can't shift the grin from my face.

Loyal to the End, Nottingham, ex-Malaysia (31/05/2007 at 17:29)

"Ever since I was a boy I always wanted to play for Manchester United and now that dream has come true. I am very happy."

Oh, spare me.. That's almost as bad as Woodgate was when he said he grew up supporting Real Madrid.. He is a Brazilian, I would expect his boyhood club to be Santos or Vasco..

Bill69, Bury. UK (31/05/2007 at 17:56)

Sounds great when do we know for certain. Don't forget we need a defensive position filling yet.
Bill Lees

JD3942, Salford (31/05/2007 at 18:13)

would just like to say, its was great how we kept these under wraps as for the last few seasons whenever we have shown an interest chelski have jumped in!!

well done the boys! looks good for the future

VALTINHO, LISBON (31/05/2007 at 18:18)

Pinto Da Costa is the biggest disgrace of portuguese football he is not in prison "yet" because the portuguese legal system is rubbish.
ok "cool down Valtinho, this is a United site, they don't care".
Anderson will be great in England just support him and have a bit of understanding that he is just 19 and needs to adapt to the PL, the same goes to Nani. United looks now a much better team and can challenge in all fronts. I enjoy skillfull football and by the look of it thats what we´ll have next season. You just gained a supporter.

Xs, Mauritius (31/05/2007 at 18:48)

Anyone knows whether Anderson is in the Brazil squad due to play England tomorrow?

de Meester, netherlands (31/05/2007 at 19:36)

Imhad to laugh when I heard the news last evening.
Word was that chav$ were trying '11th hour' bid for him!; same for spurs (re Nani!)
It's probably why we are set to have to pay over the odds in this phase!

red john (31/05/2007 at 19:44)

isnt it great its like the old days when every season we had expectation of success and liverpool got it! Now its the other way round we just kinda of expect it...ferguson's great legacy will be the change from hope to expectation and with the quality of the youngstes coming back inot the squad feel like iam a teenager again cant wait for the season to start again...Football eh

Dan (31/05/2007 at 20:23)

just saw Gill's interview on MUTV and it looks like we are not going to get a striker. But anyways with Rossi hopefully coming back and Saha fitter and Smith with All these midfielders may not need one. What do u say guys? ...

charbel (31/05/2007 at 20:41)

Er, where does that leave Dong?

This charming Manc (31/05/2007 at 21:02)

Fergie knows he needs to add the European cup to our name a few more times, we have a awfull record in the competition. When i look at Milan with Maldini,Cafu,Inzaghi,Seedorf and all the other players who are 30 plus, I glance at our squad and so many of them could still be with us in 2017 and beyond! I think if this squad stays together and plays anywhere near it's potentail then we will hold the record for Premierships, F.A Cups, Champions Leagues and League Cups in England in the near future.

dazk250780, manchester (31/05/2007 at 21:05)

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT !!! Nani we know is dubbed as the lightning kid and we all know why anderson i said yesterday i have seen little of but i have heard a lot he should do well with rooney ronaldo scholes giggs carrick hargreves and nani surrounding him

manc abroad, OT (31/05/2007 at 21:15)

Can't wait for next season. Can you imagine, Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson in the same team. Switching positions. Attack attack attack.

Mick Red, London (01/06/2007 at 08:44)

I cant wait to see them all on the same pitch, it has fantastic possibilities!
Cmon UTD

Justin The Great, manchester (01/06/2007 at 08:49)

im just happy to have wrapped up our new signings so early - now we wont be sold a load of garbage speculation from the media. anderson looks like a great player, he looks stupidly strong and fast for his age but you never know when you are looking at a different football league. Dong being prime example, he looked like he was going to gate crash the first team due to his very impressive performances at antwerp, but eventually we havnt seen much.

GIVE ANDERSON AND NANI 2 YEARS TO SETTLE. expect to see nani used more often on the wings.

Mick, Dublin (01/06/2007 at 10:22)

I think you're wrong, Loyal to the End, Premiership football has had a global fan-base for years now. Who's to say there aren't Brazilian kids who grew up dreaming about being the next Eric Cantona?

VALTINHO, LISBON (01/06/2007 at 10:25)

Anderson was very dominant when he was playing at beggining of the season and up to the injury, Me a fanatic Benfica supporter watched more Porto matches( mostly because of Quaresma but also Anderson) than Benficas. He will creat an inpact straight away speciall if United use him as a really number 10. Has I said before I would have a go with Scholes behind him with OH. To be honest he will take the pressure out of CR to have to creat everything by himself and will help Ronaldo be a bit unmarked....and don't forget that oposition still have to think about Rooney and Nani. I would keep Saha one more season and would get read of KR( send him to Porto it looks like they have the priority of MU that wil be dispensed) it would help them loosing the title to us. Smith should also go.

Demo, Glossop (01/06/2007 at 10:52)

great noise coming from this kid! and all reviews rave about him. not seen much other than a quick glimpse a few weeks ago and then utube. him and nani both need time to settle without getting slated! now can we do that kids?

Frank Old Trafford (01/06/2007 at 10:56)

There are very few players that make thier mark at the highest level while still teenagers but now we have 4 (5 if you include Giggs) and I'm sure that all of them will be challenging for the top footballing awards in the coming years. fantastic prospects for next season, I'm that excited that I'm on the verge of declaring myself the first official CIG (Carlos is god)!

On another site there were some comments from a self declared Portuguese ex-United hater (seems to be a growing group!) that with a Brazilian we might even win the CL, he said check out the stats. Brazilian or not with the team we'll have next season it's going to need some really negative boring football from a team like Liverpool or Chavski to stop us!

bobbydazzler (01/06/2007 at 11:11)

the lad has started his united carrer of on the right note. i have also dreamed of playing for united but have to finally accept now it will never happen.

Mick, Dublin (01/06/2007 at 11:13)

Valtinho, when you say a "real number 10", do you mean as a second striker, the same sort of role that Rooney likes to play?

Obviously, we're all hoping he is a long-term replacement for Scholes. From what I've seen he's strong on the ball and knows how to tackle. Do you think it's reasonable to expect him play in central midfield one day?

Obviously, Anderson is more of a creator than a destroyer but Scholes has never been the greatest tackler and, despite this, has been one of the best central midfielders I've ever seen.

Thanks for keeping us posted with the views from Portugal, by the way. It's really useful to hear opinions from someone who's watched these kids so frequently.

()

Report

Manchester United