Brave Brazilian a warrior who’s up for the fight
UNITED fans were happy to gloat that they were getting the ‘right’ Brazilian when Liverpool landed Fabinho last week.
Unlike his countryman Fred, for whom United announced they had agreed a deal with Shakhtar Dontetsk on Tuesday, he is not going to the World Cup.
That, and the extra £10m Fred is valued at, plus the view the new United man offers something more subtle than a bog-standard midfield destroyer’s approach, adds to the view that Jose Mourinho has got a class act.
The reality is, most have seen little of him other than a couple of Champions League performances – which included a goal – against City last season that impressed Pep Guardiola enough for him to show a genuine desire to sign him.
Beyond that, the Ukrainian league is among the more lowprofile in Europe and he has just a handful of Brazil caps.
But if his nickname doesn’t exactly exude Brazilian glamour, his countrymen – and others – have been quick to sing his praises.
Fred – full name Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos – does the kind of work defensively and offensively that allows his more lauded team-mates to shine. That’s good news for Paul Pogba. Brazil’s Willian believes in his international team-mate, saying: “He has a lot of quality, he can improve a lot. He goes to one of the best teams in the world and I’m happy for him.”
And United have been told they will be getting a ‘wonderful’ player by Brazilian great Rivaldo.
“Like any other player when you move to a new country, he will need a little bit of time to adapt,” he said.
“But when you are a good player and a brilliant midfielder like he is, he is going to do well and he is going to be good for Manchester United and they will be good for him.”
Former United man Rodrigo Possebon – a Brazilian who didn’t make the grade at Old Trafford but is now a sporting director – said: “He’s a versatile midfielder, can play any position in the centre of the park, but his best role is as a box-to-box midfielder, because of his capacity to defend, create and finish. He has energy, pace and power, great technique, has good passing vision, dribbling ability and plays with both feet. He has all the attributes that one seeks in a midfielder at an excellent level.”
Fred fits the ‘warrior’ mould Mourinho favours and former Shakhtar assistant Miguel Cardoso said the player has ‘balls of steel.’
“He’s very brave and, in challenges, so strong,” he said. “He is perfect, perfect. If Fred needs to fight, he’ll fight. When he needs to play, he plays. He’s very brave, very brave. “He’s a player with great ambition, that doesn’t have a fear of playing in any situation, any context. He is the type of player that, when things are going badly, you can give the ball to him. He has such a strong nerve.” As recently as February, Fred was basking in the praise and attention of Guardiola. “Coming from someone like Guardiola, now one of the most recognised managers in the world, it makes me proud,” he said. “It motivates me even more to continue to do my best in every training session and match.” Some City fans were hailing him as the heir to Fernandinho’s midfield crown at the Etihad before Guardiola’s January transfer window focus switched to Riyah Mahrez after United pipped them to Alexis Sanchez. Now he has a new label – the man who can make Pogba shine. If he can pull that off, it will be an achievement that will merit gratitude from Mourinho. But, if those who know him best are right, the support act could have what it takes to become top billing in his own right. Miguel Cardoso, former Shakhtar assistant