Brazilian midfielder Anderson was always first to show off his dancing skills whenever Manchester United won a trophy.
Unfortunately,
his football was less memorable and he is destined to leave Old
Trafford in January as one of the most expensive follies in Premier
League history, alongside the likes of Fernando Torres and Andriy
Shevchenko.
United
are prepared to let the 26-year-old move back to his homeland in the
new year with Gremio and Flamengo leading the chase. And the Old
Trafford club don't even want a transfer fee, so desperate are they to
say 'Tchau' to one of Sir Alex Ferguson's worst-ever signings.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Anderson's Porto goals and skills that convinced Ferguson
Anderson's fall has been spectacular, with the Brazilian midfielder making just one start this season
Anderson's only full outing came in the shock 4-0 Capital One Cup defeat by League One side MK Dons
Anderson replaces Angel di Maria at Burnley - it is almost certainly his last appearance in a United shirt
The Brazilian has spent rather more time off the pitch than on it this season, as he looks to leave United
The cost of bringing Anderson to these shores for what he achieved is mind-boggling.
The transfer fee from Porto in 2007 was an estimated £26million and he has earned the same again in wages since then.
For
the full £50m outlay, he has started 126 games in seven years, with
another 53 appearances as substitute, and scored nine goals – around
£5.5m a goal.
His
last, and almost certainly final, appearance in a United shirt came as a
late substitute in a goalless draw against Burnley in August.
You have to go back to December 2012 for his last goal in a United shirt, against Reaing.
He spent last season on loan to Serie A club Fiorentina but they didn't want him on a permanent basis either.
It
had all started so well for Anderson. On arrival, he was hailed as
United's next midfield general, ready to carry the mantle when Paul
Scholes' called it a day.
The early signs were promising. He played 38 times as United won the Premier League and Champions League in his debut season.
He
danced for the fans when they clinched the title in Wigan and he danced
next to Wayne Rooney on a famous night in Moscow when United became
champions of Europe for the third time. He was in the Brazil team, too.
But something happened – and cynics would say the all-you-can-eat buffet.
Anderson's first season, when he scored in the penalty shootout in the Champions League final, turned out to be his best.
Every succeeding year, he appeared that little bit heavier, that little bit more sluggish and less trusted by his manager.
Anderson was hailed as a prodigy when United agreed to buy him from Porto in 2007 for £26million
The midfielder enjoyed some good times in his early years at United, playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo
Nani and Anderson were signed at the same time in the summer of 2007, but neither reached their potential
In
February 2010, he ruptured a cruciate ligament against West Ham and
insisted the operation was done by a specialist he knew in Portugal.
While
still in rehab later that year, he was involved in a horrific car
accident after leaving a nightclub at 6am, being pulled from a burning
£125,000 Audi after it had crashed into a wall.
By
this time, Anderson – once described as potentially 'better than
Rooney' by Sir Alex's brother Martin – was turning into a figure of fun
to United team-mates rather than a serious player.
It has been a difficult seven years in Manchester for the midfielder, who was once heralded as a future star
Injuries have not helped the Brazilian's cause, and he has struggled for fitness in the past few seasons
Anderson has won eight caps for Brazil but his career has never hit the heights
Despite his troubles, Anderson picked up plenty of silverware at Old Trafford, including the 2009 league title
When
David Moyes succeeded Ferguson, he took Anderson on the team's
pre-season tour to hot and humid Asia, where Patrice Evra quipped in a
video diary his job was to deliver Anderson's burger at one o'clock in
the morning.
You
didn't have to go far within Old Trafford for Anderson to be singled
out as the individual who didn't buy into the club philosophy of
displaying energy and hard work on the pitch.
Although he always possessed attacking flair, Anderson picked up a reputation as a tough tackler
The midfielder clashes with Manchester City assistant David Platt after an FA Cup semi-final in 2011
Anderson's first season, when he scored a penalty in the Champions League final shoot-out, was his best
Now,
with his contract due to run out in the summer without any hope of an
extension, it looks as though Gremio will take him back.
Gremio
was where it all started for Anderson when he was a teenager with the
world at his feet, and he got his dream move to Europe with Porto.
Ferguson's
report on Anderson shortly before he retired was: 'Hasn't lived up to
his potential'. Sadly, it looks unlikely he ever will now.
From battling Lionel Messi on international duty, Anderson is set to go back to his first club Gremio
Anderson celebrates scoring twice against Schalke to book United's place in the Champions League final
At his best Anderson could be a goal-scoring midfielder, who created chances and made tackles
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