There is beginning to be a little bit of new-found appreciation for Fred now he has left Manchester United.
The phrase, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone’, springs to mind. Fred was a divisive player at Manchester United, signed under Jose Mourinho in 2018 at the time when the manager needed a world class player.
For the £47 million paid, Manchester United expected an elite player. Fred wasn’t quite as advertised. But the Brazilian turned out to be a workhorse, who went on to make 213 appearances for the club, scoring a modest 14 goals.
This past summer, Fred’s career at the club came to an end. United sold the midfielder for £12.9 million, taking a substantial loss on the fee paid to sign him five years earlier.
Fred the red
Fred was sold to Fenerbahce last summer and he has enjoyed a strong spell in Turkey, with the team just two points off the top of the Super Lig.
Manchester United’s haven’t forgotten him, though, wishing the midfielder a happy 31st birthday this week.
Fred showed a very classy touch with his response, demonstrating his enduring affection for Manchester United.
The midfielder wrote on X: “Once Red, always Red ! Thank you @ManUtd“.
Fred numbers in 2023/24
Manchester United will feel as though it was sensible to cash in on Fred last summer while he was 30, however, it might not have made the team better this season.
Fred has made 16 appearances in the Super Lig for Fenerbahce, recently missing the entirety of February with injury, before his return at the weekend.
He is yet to score for his new club, but has two assists – and one red card.
But he is a little bit of a lucky charm. Across the 22 games he has played in all competitions for Fenerbahce, he has not lost a single match, winning 21 and drawing one.
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