He was in Porto Alegre this week to watch youth and senior matches featuring the city's two clubs Internacional and Gremio - the former club of now United midfielder Anderson.
The champions are thought to be monitoring Gremio prodigy Douglas Costa, who has also caught the eye of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
After recently turning 18, the skillful Under 19 international signed a new deal which increases his buy-out clause to £21million and protects the club from losing a player in much the same way United acquired Rafael, Fabio and Rodrigo Possebon from the two big clubs in Rio.
Douglas Costa has already trained with the senior Brazil squad and has begun to impress for Gremio, scoring from 20 yards in Saturday's 2-1 win against Botafogo.
Described as 'the new jewel of Brazilian football', the modest teenager said: "I don't have think about this. I only have that to play football.
"I face this with calmness. I am not a star."




