Man United news: 'Anderson could have been world's best if it ...

Anderson spent a total of eight years(!) at United and finally left the club in 2015 with four Premier League winners' medals, a Champions ... Football ManchesterUnited SignuptoourFREEnewsletter Subscribe Onceyouhavesubscribedwewillusetheemailyouprovidedtosendyouthenewsletter.Youcanunsubscribeatanytimebyclickingtheunsubscribelinkatthebottomofthenewsletteremail. Bytickingthisboxyouareagreeingtoourtermsandprivacypolicy ManchesterUnitedfanswillrememberAndersonwithmixedemotions. TheBrazilianmostlyflatteredtodeceiveatOldTraffordbutstillproducedsomegoodmoments–including,perhapsmostnotably,hispenaltyintheshoot-outagainstChelseainthe2008ChampionsLeaguefinal–andlefttheclubwithahostofmajorhonourstohisname. Andersonspentatotalofeightyears(!)atUnitedandfinallylefttheclubin2015withfourPremierLeaguewinners’medals,aChampionsLeaguetitle,aFIFAClubWorldCuptitleandaLeagueCupmedal. SirAlexFergusonnevercarriedpassengersduringhistenureatUnited,butthelegendaryScotclearlyhadasoftspotforAnderson. TheSouthAmericanwas,byallaccounts,apopularmemberofthesquadandbroughtpositivevibestothedressingroom. However,it’seasytoforgetthatAndersonwasoneoftheworld’smosthighly-ratedyoungmidfielderswhenUnitedsignedhimfromFCPortobackin2007. NanialsojoinedManUtdatthesametime,butAndersonwastheplayerwhoappearedtohaveallthetoolsrequiredtobecomeaPremierLeaguesuperstar. Rafael:Andersonhadworld-classtalentbutlovedMcDonald’s FormerUnitedright-backRafaelbelieveshiscompatriotcouldhavebecometheworld’sbestplayerifitwasn’tforhisloveoffood–specificallyMcDonald’s. InanextractfromhisjointautobiographywithtwinbrotherFabio–TheSunshineKids–publishedbyTheMirror,Rafaelwrote:“WecouldbeontheteamcoachandpasstheservicesonthemotorwayandAndersonwouldjumpupimpulsivelyandyell‘McDonald’s,McDonald’s.’ “Theguywascrazy,butIlovehim.Givehimafootballandhewouldjustplaywithfreedomandsometimes,ifhegotagoodrunofgames,hecouldplayaswellasanyplayerintheleague. “Notonlythat,butwhenhewasplayingwell,wewereplayingbrilliantfootball.Hepickedupalotofbiginjuriesandthenhisproblemswitheatingthewayhedidstartedtoaffecthim. “Itwasnocoincidencethathisbestformcamewhenhehadalotofgamesbecausethatwaswhenhecouldn’teatsomuch.IwillsaysomethingaboutAnderson–ifhehadbeenaprofessionalfootballplayer,hecouldhavebeenthebestintheworld. “I’msayingthiswithallseriousness.Idon’tknowifheevertookanythingseriously.Hejustlovedlifeinsuchaneasyandcasualway. “Insomewaysthatwasaquality.Itwaswhatmadehimsopopularandoneofthemostpopularplayersattheclub. “Buthewouldjusteatwhateverwasputinfrontofhim.” WhathappenedtoAndersonafterheleftManUtd? Althoughheenjoyedadecentcareeratthetoplevel,it’sahugeshamethatAndersonwasunabletofulfilhishugepotential. HereturnedtohisnativeBrazilin2015,signingforInternacional,whohadneverbeenrelegatedbeforeintheirentirehistoryuntilthemidfielder’sarrival. Oneyearlater,theywererelegatedfromtheBraziliantopflight. AndersonthenjoinedCoritibaonloan.TheywerealsorelegatedfromBrazil’stoptier. AfteradisastrousreturntoBrazil,AndersonwentontosignforTurkishseconddivisionsideAdanaDemirsporinJuly2018,wherehemadejust15appearancesbeforeannouncinghisretirementoneyearlaterattheageof31. VaranetoManUtda‘donedeal’(FootballTerrace) HowmuchcanyourememberaboutUnited’s2020-21season?[Quiz] 1of15 WhodidManchesterUnitedlosetoontheopeningdayofthe2020/21campaign? ManchesterCity CrystalPalace Brighton&HoveAlbion TottenhamHotspur Football ManchesterUnited PremierLeague nextstory previousstory NewsNow-SportNews Latest ManchesterUnitedarticles ManUnited:Bigclaimemergeson93-goalstar'sOldTraffordfuture Football 9hoursago SirAlexFergusononcewalkedoutofpresserafterManUtd'struggling'question Football 13hoursago England:WhatStevenGerrardsaidtoWayneRooneyafterCristianoRonaldo'swink Football 14hoursago FACup:PeterSchmeichel'sincredibledisallowedgoalforManUtd Football 19hoursago RoyKeane'sbrilliantreactiontothePremierLeague'ssnoodcrazein2010 Football 21hoursago WestHam:Moyeswould'prefertohaveLingard'over£25mIronsstar Football 1dayago Latest Footballarticles Arsenal:AshleyYoung’sinterviewcausesstirafterAstonVillalose1-0 Football 7hoursago Tottenham:£97.5mContefavouritecouldmakeshockSpursmove Football 8hoursago Liverpool:£90mstar'sagent'frustrated'overAnfieldstance Football 8hoursago RicardoPrasel’sincrediblejourneyfromChelseagoalkeepertoMMAfighter Football 8hoursago 'Wonderkid'WestHamwantcanbelike-for-likeKralreplacement Football 9hoursago Tottenham:ParaticiandContecouldleavefortopEuropeanclub Football 9hoursago