In the wake of transfer rumours about Manchester United’s interest in Southampton and Senegalese winger Saido Mane, we take a look back at the Africans who have played for the Red Devil’s.
1. Manucho
Born Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves; Manucho moved from Petro Atletico to Manchester United in January 2008. He was loaned out to Greek side Panathinaikos for the remainder of the 2007–08 season, due to issues with obtaining a UK work permit, before he could play a game for United. Manucho returned to Manchester United and made his debut for the club in the League Cup against Middlesbrough on 23 September 2008. Short of first team opportunities at Old Trafford, however, he joined Hull City on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season.
2. Quinton Fortune
The retired South African footballer moved to Europe at the age of 14 to play for English club Tottenham Hotspur. He later moved to Spain in 1995 and after playing for Mallorca and Athletico Madrid his performances earned him a move back to England with Manchester United in 1999, where he spent seven years as a part of manager Alex Ferguson’s system of squad rotation. He made 93 appearances in both midfield and defense and scored 6 goals for the club.
3. Eric Daniel Djemba-Djemba
The Cameroonian midfielder played for Manchester United from 2003-2005. He played 28 times for the club and scored one league cup goal. He currently playes for Indonesian club Persebaya Surabaya.
4. Mame Biram Diouf
The Senegalese striker joined United in 2009 where he made 5 appearances and scored once on his home debut for United. He also won the League Cup as an unused substitute in United’s 2010 Football League Cup Final victory.
