By Mark Weasley
Manchester United have announced the signing of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred, who completed his medical at Carrington on Monday.
The Brazilian, who is currently in England with the rest of his international teammates, was spotted at the training ground, with the fee rumoured to be around £52.5m agreed with Shakhtar Donetsk. The player had been in talks with United in the past few weeks, and will become the club’s first signing of the transfer window after personal terms are agreed.
The Man United fans are elated about the early transfer deals, and here’s what they have been saying on Twitter:
Fred has a good left leg on him #Elite #Mufc
— Big C A N O (@Mister_Baxter) June 6, 2018
Good to see us doing da biz on the transfer front early with the acquisitions of Fred and Dalot. #MUFC
— Andrew (@superboomerator) June 6, 2018
Fred and Dalot in the space of two days. Who’s next #mufc? pic.twitter.com/4W8huf0Uuo
— tas (@tasthabib) June 6, 2018
Just waiting for Fred's welcome bits now #WelcomeFred #FredisRED #MUFC
— Kirsto7 (@kirstomufc7) June 6, 2018
I love #mufc's approach to the transfer market. So far, they've avoided the big-name, glamour signings that come with heaps of pressure. Fred & Dalot will just be allowed to get on with it. I already can't wait for the new season. pic.twitter.com/3aEQwrnAB1
— OldTraffordFaithful (@OTFaithful) June 6, 2018
Weve only signed Fred and a 19 year old Dalot , but rivals are salty as fuck ? #mufc
— OneUnited® (@jayutd19) June 6, 2018
Fred looks alright tbf, but the news every Man Utd fan wants is Fellaini agreeing a new 5 year deal on 200 grand a week minimum. Get it done @ManUtd #mufc
— Chesney (@dewii10) June 6, 2018
Fred impressed for Shakhtar last season, playing particularly well in the Champions League as his team reached the Round of 16. He was close to joining Manchester City in the January transfer window, but The Citizens opted to sign another defender in the form of Aymeric Laporte after John Stones got injured in December.
A statement from the club’s website, manutd.com read, “Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk for the transfer of Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos (Fred). A further announcement will be made in due course.”
Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho had spoken of a Brazilian arriving at Old Trafford in the coming season, insisting that every team needs the flair and finesse of a Brazilian. Fred is a supremely talented player that is an all-round central midfield lynchpin that will add more solidity and mobility to a midfield that sometimes struggled with teams that sat back in huge numbers.
He joined Shakhtar in 2013 from Internacional as a raw 20-year-old and has matured into an elite, world class player in Ukraine.
