After winning the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, the world was Kleberson’s oysters.
A year later, an intervention by team -mate Ronaldinho proved to be a sliding moment in his career.
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In retrospect, it may not feel that way, but adhesive was an outstanding part of the tournament organized by Japan and South Korea.
In the final, a 2-0 victory against Germany, he hit the crossbar from the long distance and supported Ronaldo’s second goal.
“He was always the first name on the team list, in front of players like Ronaldo,” said national team leader Luiz Felipe Scolari.
“Kleinson will have no problem adapting to the Premiership.”
But how did his 6.5 million pounds come to Old Trafford in 2003?
Well, he was also sought by Newcastle United, Celtic and Leeds – it was really a different time.
According to this, Barcelona also wanted to report in the Atletico Paranaense star.
He clarified his options with the FOURFOURTWO magazine and said: “There were two clubs that should sign me: Manchester United and Leeds.
“It was an easy choice, but there is also a funny story about it. If [Manchester] United’s interest in me was confirmed, I was at the national team in France for the FIFA Confederations Cup.
“I can clearly remember: I was with Ronaldinho and his brother/agent Assis. Ronaldinho said:” You want to sign both “and I said:” Ok, let’s go! “
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“I was so happy that he would come with me,” he added.
“I went back to Brazil and kept negotiating with United, but then Ronaldinho was wrong and played in Barcelona in warm weather! He sent me to Manchester.
“This is still a joke between us. He knows that he owes me one.”
Ronaldinho had triggered a replacement for the Real Madrid-bound David Beckham this summer, but was instead by Barcelona, who wanted to compete with this Galactico signing.
“It almost happened with United,” said Ronaldinho. “It was a question of 48 hours, but [Sandro] Rosell had told me a lot before I got the offer: “If I become Barca President, will you come?” I said yes.
“It was only a question of details with United when Rosell called to say that he would win the choice there. And I had promised him to play for Barca.”
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Without Ronaldinho, Kleberson was unveiled by a young start from Madeira – Cristiano Ronaldo – to his unveiling.
And while the lively winger quickly became a fan favorite when he started his ascent to football, the Brazilian was quickly disagreement after winning five balloons.
In fact, it became so bad at one point that Roy Keanes was directed against him.
Teammate Eric Djemba-Djemba said: “Keane had a right in Klebernson. Kleberson looked as if he didn’t want to play with his body language and wanted to play slowly.
“I remember a Champions League game in Old Trafford, we went into the changing room and Roy Keane cried out.
“He said ‘You have to wake up! You have to give everything, you have to attack! Why don’t you want to play? You just won the World Cup! What happened? You have to play better!’
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“It was definitely scary for adhesives. He always smiled and still smiled when Keane started what Keane had made even more angry.”
And while the Brazilian career may not have been the way he would have liked to be in Old Trafford, he remains Philosophically with regard to his time with the club.
In conversation with the Manchester Evening News in 2019, Kleberson said: “In my time at United, there was a great team with first -class players. I had a lot of change in the team, there were five or six new players and the club lost a few good players.
“We came in mentally to help the team, and of course we were fine, then the team is doing well. The players adapt to it and take on their best performance.”
He added: “If the team is not doing well, it is difficult to change their style, I couldn’t do it when I came to Man United, I tried to change the player I was, more passports, more aggression, more duels, but it is too difficult and not what my game was about.
“From 17 to 24 years old I played this flowing Brazilian style to move the ball quickly and get it in space. With Man United, I had difficult moments most of the time, I had a lot of injuries and had a lot to fight.
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“It was a difficult time, and if you see a big evaluation of your performance in the top teams, the criticism can be very high, especially with Man United.”
Klebernson left the Red Devils after 30 appearances for Besiktas in 2005, two seasons after moving to Manchester.
That also ended after only two seasons, but this time he was 67 appearances before returning to Brazil with Flamengo, where he won the title in 2009.
He would also have spell in Bahia, Philadelphia Union, Indy Eleven and Fort Lauderdale strikers before he ended it in 2016.