Fred the Red: I can’t wait to get started!
BRAZIL ACE CAN BE FINAL COG FOR REDS IN TITLE BID, SAYS MOURINHO
JOSE Mourinho believes he has secured a vital cog in United’s bid to win the Premier League with the signing of Fred.
The Brazilian international has completed his £52m move from Shakhtar Donetsk, agreeing a fiveyear deal.
And Mourinho is convinced he’s landed the pass-master United lost when Michael Carrick retired at the end of last season.
“Fred is the complement we need in our midfield qualities,” said the United manager. “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.”
Mourinho made the acquisition of a holding midfielder a priority in a summer when he plans to overhaul his squad.
He bemoaned the absence of Carrick last season when the veteran was ruled out for much of the campaign with a heart condition.
United’s scouting department was tasked with the responsibility drawing up a dossier of the world’s top midfielders, with Marco Verratti, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic Jean-Michael Seri, Jorginho and Arturo Vidal all monitored closely.
Mourinho is still considering making further additions to his engine room to replace the out-ofcontract Marouane Fellaini, who is expected to leave as a free agent.
But the speed with which United moved for Fred - who has an option of a further year on his contract is a measure of how pivotal he is to Mourinho’s plans as he bids mount a genuine title challenge to City.
The 25-year-old, who is part of Brazil’s World Cup squad, said: “This is the biggest club in the world and I am delighted to be a part of this amazing team.
“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.
“This is a very exciting time for me with my focus now fully on the World Cup with Brazil.”
‘I used to play as United in a computer game, now I’m playing for them’
BRAZILIAN midfielder Fred’s dreams have come true as he revealed he has gone from playing as United on a computer game to signing for the club.
The 25-year-old has been finally announced as Jose Mourinho’s second summer signing, and the former Shakhtar Donetsk man has already spoken about his admiration for the club.
“I’m so happy to be here and to have the opportunity to play for this club,” he said. “It’s a huge club with great history and it’s a real honour to perform for United.
“I’m just so happy to have completed the transfer and now look forward to playing for the club.
“Manchester United is a huge club. When I was young, it was a name I used to hear and it was a name I used to see on computer games and I used to play with the team. For me, Manchester United means greatness.”
The Brazil international has already played at Old Trafford when United faced Shakhtar in the Champions League in 2013 and the midfielder was delighted to be playing against club great Ryan Giggs.
“I think the name ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ sums it up,” Fred added. “It’s such a great stadium. On that occasion I played against Ryan Giggs and I was so happy to have that opportunity to play against him.
“Now I’m coming to join the club, not to play alongside Giggs, but to play for the team that he represented and to fight for the same colours.”
Fred is one of two new signings Mourinho has made this summer with right-back Diogo Dalot announced earlier this month.
The United boss is looking to strengthen his side in this window as they aim to close the gap on champions City next season.
And United’s latest signing is hoping he can be part of a new chapter in United’s history. He said: “It’s going to be a big challenge, that’s for sure. “But I am someone who is always looking to improve. “I’m looking to show the best of my abilities every day and to work to improve, and that means working to play well and put in good performances in the Premier League and with Manchester United to achieve great things and win titles. ”At United, I’m looking to win titles, alongside my new teammates and my new manager, win matches with the club and make history by achieving great things together.” Speaking about his role within the team, Jose Mourinho said: “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.”
I think the name ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ sums it up. It’s such a great stadium New United signing Fred