Manucho outshone Didier Drogba at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring four goals to earn a place in the tournament's best XI, yet his Manchester United career amounted to just 42 minutes across three appearances before he left the club 18 months after arriving from Angola.
United announced the signing of the Angolan forward in December 2008 following a successful three-week trial, during which he trained against Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at Carrington. The club had monitored Manucho for a few months before Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant, Carlos Queiroz, persuaded the Scot to give him a trial.
Ferguson's verdict on trial signing
“We have had Manucho here for trial and have been impressed enough to offer him a contract,” said Ferguson. “He is a tall, agile, quick forward and through contacts that Carlos has, was brought to our attention.”
United needed a backup striker due to concerns over Louis Saha's fitness, and Ferguson decided to offer Manucho a contract before the Africa Cup of Nations in case he took the competition by storm. The 24-year-old was one of the players of the tournament, scoring in Angola's opener to earn a draw with South Africa, before netting twice as his side came from behind to beat Senegal 3-1 in their second group match.
AFCON heroics and work permit battle
He fired Angola to the quarter-finals and netted again in a 2-1 defeat to eventual winners Egypt, with his four goals earning him a place in the tournament's best XI. Samuel Eto'o scored five goals but was pipped by Manucho for a place in that XI, while Drogba could only manage three goals for the Ivory Coast.
Ferguson was impressed, saying: “It is always difficult to assess, but there is good potential there. He has good assets, so there is something to work on. If we can get the work permit, we can map out a future for him.”
The work permit was one of the factors in Manucho's time at United not working out. The initial application was rejected by the Home Office, which saw the forward sent on a six-month loan to Greek club Panathinaikos. Manucho scored four goals in nine appearances for Panathinaikos, but he felt he deserved more game time.
Limited chances and eventual exit
Manucho's work permit was finally approved that summer. “We're delighted to have him,” then United Chief Executive David Gill said. “He's 25 years old and has got a lot of great attributes. You only need to look at the goals he scored at the African Nations Cup to see that and I think he brings something different to the team.”
He made his debut for United in September 2008, coming on as a substitute for Ryan Giggs in the Carling Cup against Middlesbrough, and made two further substitute appearances against Stoke and Blackburn. Hull then signed him on a six-month loan in the January window, where he scored two goals in 17 appearances, including a last-minute winner against Fulham, as the Tigers avoided relegation on the final day of the campaign.
The striker signed for Spanish club Valladolid on a five-year contract, but left on loan to Bucaspor and Manisapor before signing for Rayo Vallecano in 2014. It was with Rayo Vallecano that Manucho won the first trophy of his career, as they won the Segunda Division title in his final season at the club. He called time on his playing career in 2019, but he's still involved in football today, living in the United States and working as president of Maine Legends FC.
