Antonio Valencia has plenty to prove at ManUtd

As if joining Manchester United as Cristiano Ronaldo's replacement wasn't enough of a challenge for Antonio Valencia, the Ecuador winger must also live up to his billing as the figurehead of the Premier League's Latin invasion.

When Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid for a world record 80 million pounds in June, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to spend 17 million pounds of that fee on luring Valencia from Wigan.
Valencia, 23, first caught Ferguson's eye during a 20-minute cameo for Wigan against United in 2006.

That substitute appearance made Ferguson aware of how Valencia's dynamic runs and incisive crosses could hurt opponents and he regularly dispatched scouts to check on his progess over the next two years. Click to read more...