Blogging regular Gavinio looks forward to
seeing the fruits of Rodrigo Possebon's season-long spell in
Portugal...
Getting somewhat lost in the reaction to Michael
Owen's arrival was the announcement that United's talented
Brazilian midfielder, Rodrigo Possebon, will be spending the
2009/10 season on loan at Portuguese side Braga.
As a follower of United's reserves, I've taken a keen interest in
Possebon's progress so far. Few reserve-team players have impressed
me as much as he has in his short time at the club - in fact, I was
so impressed by his accomplished, high-energy, box to box midfield
displays, I even had his name and number printed on my blue replica
shirt last season.
This time last year, he joined the senior squad in South Africa
after a string of fine pre-season performances – and some stunning
strikes – for the reserves. Following his unofficial debut in the
Vodacom Challenge final against the Kaizer Chiefs, Sir Alex said:
“I think the lad has got a chance.”
Just a couple of weeks later, Rodrigo made his first competitive
appearance in the opening 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle. After
coming on as sub for Ryan Giggs, he looked calm and confident on
the ball, rarely giving away possession and not once shirking a
challenge. As with Federico Macheda later in the season, many
admirers inside Old Trafford that day wondered who the young
foreign lad was but those of us who had seen Rodrigo in the
reserves, either in the flesh or on MUTV, stood by smugly and
declared we were witnessing the debut of a future United
star.
Of course, injury prevented further progress when, in the first
Carling Cup game of the season, he was the victim of a horrendous
challenge from Middlesbrough's Emanuel Pogatetz. Seeing Rodrigo
leave the field on
a stretcher had many fearing the worse and it was only through
sheer good fortune that the only physical damage done was a
sizeable gash to the shin. Perhaps the psychological impact was
more serious because when he was fit to play again, I felt his form
was adversely affected and he did not feature for the first team as
often as many of us had hoped.
Towards the end of the campaign, his form picked up again and
he was rewarded with a cameo appearance in the last day win at
Hull, where he looked back to his old, assured self. Although I was
glad to see him in the first team again, I had already voiced the
opinion on Talking
Reds that his next season with us
might be better spent on loan in order to aid his
development.
I initially thought he might join a lower-division English club (in
the Championship or League One) so the news he will be playing in
Portugal came as a surprise. It could however prove to be a highly
beneficial experience for Rodrigo. Braga finished fifth in the
league last season and as a result will be taking part in the first
Europa League, formerly the UEFA Cup.
So all being well, not only will Rodrigo be playing regular
first-team league football, the prospect of him gaining valuable
European experience means that next summer we could be seeing an
even better player back at M16 to compete for a first team place. I
for one wish Rodrigo well for the next 12 months and look forward
to his return.