Transfer Tales: Three years of Fred at United

The Brazilian midfielder completed the switch from the Ukraine on 21 June 2018, joining on a five-year contract with the option to extend for a further year.

 

That contract still has a couple of years left to run, while Fred has, to date, made 121 appearances for the club, scoring four goals.

 

Fred joined Shakhtar in 2013, after impressing for his first professional club in Brazil, Internacional.

 

While in Ukraine, he won three league titles and impressed on numerous occasions in the Champions League, which helped arouse the interest of both United and Manchester City.

 

Fred even appeared at Old Trafford for Shakhtar, in a 1-0 United win in 2013, when the Reds were under the stewardship of David Moyes, and Phil Jones got the only goal of the match.

United vied with several clubs for his signature, but eventually sealed his transfer in the summer of 2018.

 

“This is the biggest club in the world and I am delighted to be a part of this amazing team,” said Fred. “To work with Jose Mourinho, who has won so many trophies in his time as a coach, is an opportunity not to be missed.

 

“I cannot wait to get started and to meet my new team-mates. I would like to thank everyone at Shakhtar Donetsk for everything they have done for me over the past five years. This is a very exciting time for me.”

 

Fred made his debut in a 2-1 win over Leicester City in August of that year – United's opening game of the 2018/19 season.

 

Jose Mourinho: “Fred will complement our other midfielders' qualities, which we need; his creative brain and passing vision will give us another dimension to our game. I am very happy he is joining our club and I believe our players know how important he can be in our team.”

 

The Express: “The 25-year-old, who is in his country’s squad for the World Cup, has been likened to compatriot Fernandinho who made the same switch from Shakthar to Manchester – although he moved to City in 2013. After losing the retired Michael Carrick and out-of-contract Marouane Fellaini, Mourinho said re-stocking his midfield department was vital for a title challenge next season. And in Fred he is getting a pocket dynamo – a stocky, left-footed box-to-box midfielder who can do a bit of everything, tackle, score, create and run.”

 

Tim Vickery (BBC): “Manchester United are getting a fine player for their money. Pep Guardiola was very impressed when Fred played against Manchester City for Shakhtar in the Champions League in 2017/18. You can see something of a mini version of [Manchester City midfielder] Fernandinho. United are getting a little, stocky, left-footed midfielder who will bring real dynamism. Fred can work box to box, he has a lovely left foot, he's improving very nicely and has picked up valuable European experience.”