Fred, the Manchester United midfielder, has divided opinion among fans.
The Brazilian was signed in the summer of 2018 under the reign of José Mourinho and was destined to be United’s number 8 solution for the future.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case for Fred.
He has impressed many games with his great energy and intensity, but he has also shown his flaws.
Fred’s inability to maintain control of the ball is a major weakness in his game.
His first touch and technique are not good enough for Man United.
Fred’s best spell was with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when United were a counter-attacking team.
Together with Scott McTominay, he formed a strong partnership that finished second in the Premier League during the 2020-21 season.
During that time, United relinquished possession to the opposition and looked to hit them at half-time.
Fred proved extremely useful in breaking up play and letting the ball pass to attackers.
He has been praised for his work rate in big games.
However, since Erik ten Hag’s appointment as manager, United have embraced a more possession-based style of play.
The Dutchman prefers players who are technically solid and capable of keeping the ball well.
While Fred could offer a backup option off the bench, it remains to be seen if the player is comfortable with his limited playing time.
Ten Hag will look to reinforce the midfield in the summer.
