Bebé during the interview with Flashscore
UD Ibiza
The Cape Verdean footballer, a well-known figure in Spanish football, spoke to Flashscore on the pitch of the UD Ibiza stadium, where he currently plays.
If we say Tiago Manuel Dias Correia (35), the name might not ring a bell, but mention Bebé, and many will recall a player with a cannon of a leg who has featured for clubs like Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, and Real Zaragoza.
Now, the Cape Verdean forward is in the final years of his career, playing for UD Ibiza. After a two-year absence from his national team, he dreams of being included in the squad for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States—the first ever for the African nation.
On this and many other topics, including his special time in Vallecas and his stint at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, Flashscore sat down with him for an in-depth conversation. During the chat, Bebé revealed himself as a great connoisseur of the sport, with a career that only lacks the cherry on top: playing in a World Cup.
Bebé (left) with Miguel Baeza (right), editor of Flashscore Spain, during the interview
UD Ibiza
**Paco Jémez’s call**
**Question:** How is life in Ibiza, Bebé?
**Answer:** “Life is really good here. From the moment I arrived, I’ve really enjoyed the climate. Summer is great, winter is a bit quieter, but the quality of life is excellent.”
**Q:** When you were at Ferrol, how did the opportunity to come to Ibiza arise?
**A:** “As everyone knows, the opportunity came because I worked with Paco Jémez for several seasons. Things at Ferrol weren’t going as I wanted, nor as the club wanted. We both decided to end the contract, and Paco had also spoken to me. I saw it as an interesting change. I really liked the move, and I’m enjoying it. I’ve been here a season and a half, and I’m really enjoying being in Ibiza. We’ll see how things go.”
Bebé and Paco Jémez during their time at Rayo Vallecano
GONZALO ARROYO MORENO / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
**Q:** A year ago, I interviewed Paco, who is no longer here, and he also spoke very highly of you. What’s your relationship with him like?
**A:** “It’s a very healthy, very good relationship. We have a strong friendship, both within and outside the profession. We’re always in touch. He’s someone I care about a lot, a coach I deeply respect from the day we started working together. Paco knows I always wish him the best and that his teams do well. He deserves good things because he has a great heart and is a very good coach.”
**Q:** Last year you were fighting for a playoff spot and promotion to the Segunda División, but this year things haven’t gone as well, and he had to leave. How is the team’s morale right now?
**A:** “The team is fine, no doubt about it. We didn’t achieve our goal of making the playoffs—that’s far off now. We have to be honest, but now there’s another very important objective: survival. Ibiza cannot be relegated; we have to turn things around. We’re a bit sad for not achieving the goal—players, coach, president—because the goal from the start of the season was to reach the playoffs and get promoted to Segunda. It got complicated, but that’s football. Things didn’t go as planned, but we can’t hang our heads. We don’t have the playoff goal anymore, but we have an important one: to honor the shirt.”
