Amid the smoke and pyro surrounding the 25-year-old’s capture, which sent ripples through the red universe, it was easy to miss the subtle roles that Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani played in their Portuguese compatriot joining us from Sporting.
The two ex-Reds also completed that route from Sporting to Old Trafford and, as Bruno revealed in his big interview upon signing, our former forwards had both reviewed the club in glowing terms to him.
Now a legend of the sport, it is fitting that Ronaldo was the first to make that move from Lisbon in 2003 and, almost 17 years later (a timeframe that is hard to believe), he reflects positively on a life-changing, career-shaping experience.