Why Manchester United could end up missing Fred before the end of the season

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Fred could be set to make his competitive debut for Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Super Lig on Monday evening, following his £12.8m move from the Red Devils last week.

Fenerbahçe are looking to keep a perfect start with an away trip to Samsunspor, with Fred anticipated to start the match alongside former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian striker scored both goals in the side’s opening 2-1 victory over Gaziantep FK last Sunday. Fred posted a picture of himself to his X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, account in Fenerbahçe training on Sunday with the caption: "Ready for tomorrow."

The Brazilian spent five years at Manchester United, making 139 Premier League appearances. He won the Carabao Cup as well as reaching the finals of FA Cup and Europa League for the club, losing both to Manchester City and Villarreal respectively. Despite being often criticised for his less-than-impressive performances during his early United career - under Erik Ten Hag last season Fred seemed to flourish.

Want to join our MUFC Pro club for a totally ad-free version of the MEN’s Man United app packed with premium features? Click here

READ MORE: Manchester United agree to sell Noam Emeran

The player was integral across the two-legged victory over La Liga champions Barcelona in the Europa League’s second round. Choruses of ‘Fred will tear you apart again’ rung around Old Trafford during his on-pitch interview with BT Sport after the return fixture, the Brazilian saying: "It’s very good to hear my name [sung] by the fans."

Following the match, United manager Ten Hag also pinpointed the midfielder’s importance to the result, telling BT Sport: "What he can do really well, is make runs [in] behind… that was part of our game plan, it was - again - really effective."

The United boss added in his post-match press conference: "He had to first stop Frenkie De Jong playing, he had to play as a mosquito, and he did it magnificently… last week he gave a brilliant assist to Rashy [Rashford] in Barcelona, and today he scored the goal - brilliant performance."

Last season, Fred scored six goals and obtained six assists for United, making a total of 56 appearances across that time. In spite of the arrivals of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, the Brazilian was integral to United’s successes, proving to be a key player in big matches for the side.

In Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford back in January, the midfielder’s contribution was specifically noteworthy. His defensive work in keeping Kevin De Bruyne quiet, ensuring Norwegian talisman Erling Haaland received little to no service in front of goal, was particularly impressive.

Regardless of his recent spike in form, the manager clearly deemed the midfielder surplus to requirements at Manchester United and he was allowed to seal a move away from the club during the summer transfer window. His impending debut for the Turkish club comes at a time where United have struggled massively, looking poor against Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur to start their Premier League season, with the midfield specifically noted as an area of weakness for the side.

It’s hard to deny that Fred’s aggressive pressing and tireless efforts to regain possession were key parts of some of Manchester United’s victories last season, and a side to their game that they missed against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend - who seemed to dance through United’s midfield unscathed.

The harsh reality for Manchester United fans is that the gap left in the midfield in the opening two fixtures may not have been left if the Brazilian was an option from the bench, as a lack of midfield depth continues to curse the Red Devils in the early matches of their season. It appears no coincidence that United’s loss of control and presence in the midfield seems to coincide with the departure of the tricky central midfielder.

Follow the MEN's United coverage on TikTok and YouTube, and subscribe to the Manchester is Red podcast