"Back home I had more of the ball and could take a second longer in possession, I could run with it and find space. My first game at United, I couldn't believe how competitive and physical it was. Kleberson with his Manchester United team-mates My team-mates were spending so much time in the gym. They were big guys. We weren't doing that back in Brazil. We focused more on stamina and skill, but you need more than that in the Premier League."
"Eric Djemba-Djemba was so strong, laughs Kleberson. I was like, Oh my god!' He was also very young. So I needed time to adapt. I loved my time at the club and those players were fantastic. Kleberson left United after making just 20 Premier League appearances across two seasons something he later admitted to regretting. Still, he'll never forget the summer he became a Red Devil."
Kleberson joined Manchester United in summer 2003 after winning the World Cup with Brazil, arriving from Athletico Paranaense at age 23. The Premier League offered a much more physical, competitive style than Brazilian football, with teammates spending extensive time in the gym and emphasizing strength alongside stamina and skill. Eric Djemba-Djemba impressed with his physicality, and Kleberson needed time to adapt to the faster, more combative tempo. He made 20 Premier League appearances across two seasons before leaving the club, a move he later regretted. The transfer remained a major life milestone as a move to Europe and to a top club.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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