Sir Alex Ferguson spent around £30million to bring Anderson and Nani from Porto and Sporting Lisbon respectively last summer, keen to snap up two hugely promising players for the future.

However, both have made an immediate impact to life in England, with Anderson in particular settling down quickly and earning a regular first-team place, keeping the likes of Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes out of the starting line-up.

And the Brazilian - who came off the bench in his national team's 1-0 friendly win over Sweden in London last night - believes his flying start is down to the support he has received since arriving at Old Trafford.

Speaking through an interpreter, Anderson said: "I am very happy.

"I moved to Manchester United to be in a team with such great players and they gave me such good support after I spent about eight months injured with Porto.

"It was a wonderful surprise, a wonderful beginning to come to Manchester United, get the support, start playing, playing well, and this reflects the way I feel now - very confident and very relaxed."

Anderson was also full of praise for United colleague Cristiano Ronaldo, hailed by many as the best player in the game at the moment.

He said: "Ronaldo is playing wonderful, wonderful football but I don't want to say who is the best player in the world."