Anderson had an iconic smile and attitude (Picture: Getty Images)

With Anderson on the cusp of leaving Manchester United to join Fiorentina we move ever closer to the point where the European Cup winning side of 2008 is fully disbanded.

But whilst this is poignant in itself, the more disheartening issue is the circumstances under which Anderson is leaving United.

Anderson leaving the club is seen by a lot of supporters as ‘good news’ with it signifying the beginning of the David Moyes clear-out, however to those with a memory spanning back to 2007 the departure of Anderson leaves a sorry feeling as what made the young Brazilian so popular with the United faithful in his debut season is the exact reason why he is leaving under such an undeserving cloud.



Anderson joined United as an exuberant left winger who looked to have the world at his feet upon leaving Portugal to join one of the world’s biggest football clubs, and his initial performances illustrated this perfectly.


Anderson was joining a totally different culture and club where the pressure is never off and he was instantly made to change his position, yet the 18-year-old always appeared with the same smile and happy go lucky nature which instantly endeared him to supporters.

He was a player who didn’t take football or anything too seriously, yet he knew exactly what it meant to be a Manchester United player. His ‘geeing up’ of the Old Trafford crowd when on the pitch and his bob and weave dance which attempted to unsight opposition goalkeepers ahead of a direct free-kick, much to the dismay of older fans, were what earned him the adulation of United supporters.

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Anderson was always accused of having a less than adequate training regime (Picture: Getty Images)

Even though he was born six and a half thousand miles away in Porto Alegre, we still felt as if he was one of us and make no mistake Anderson wasn’t simply the class clown who gave us all a giggle, he could play, as we saw in his domineering performances at both the Emirates and Anfield in the 2007-2008 campaign.

Anderson had the bottle to take a penalty in Moscow and scored, he had nerve far beyond his years yet a lack of fitness upon returning from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing started a chain of fitness issues from which he never recovered.

Throughout his United career Anderson has been unlucky with injuries, he has never been able to build up a head of steam once in the team due to injuries and has struggled to keep himself fit when side-lined with his weight being a serious issue.

This unfortunately turned him into a figure of fun amongst sections of supporters yet he is by some distance more naturally talented than any of the midfielders United have left at this time.

The lack of work ethic off the pitch born from not taking football too seriously has in the end cost Anderson his United career – and possibly his chance at greatness – but to the majority of United supporters he will always be remembered fondly.

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