Fred’s name might now be the shortest in the Manchester United squad, but his arrival signals an essential broadening of horizons from manager Jose Mourinho.
Beyond the sweet early summer months of 2017/18, watching the Red Devils became a routinely joyless experience. A collection of supreme individuals frequently stumbled rather than soared.
Their second place – the club’s best since the heady days of Sir Alex Ferguson – in the Premier League felt almost like a Pyrrhic victory, welding the miserly Mourinho to a post that maudlin performances on the pitch scarcely merited.
The feast that Manchester City supporters were gorging on less than five miles away accentuated this feeling of betrayal about attacking traditions.
However, in Brazil international Fred, it appears Mourinho has found the perfect vessel. The multi-faceted £52 million (Dh255.2m) midfielder represents an expansive future, attained without the cost of savaging the boss’ core principles.
Bigger names recruited for higher fees will step through the Old Trafford entrance this summer. None will represent a clearer sign that necessary change has arrived.
After the indignity of watching City sweep their way to the title in record-breaking fashion, more of the same from their chastened neighbours would not do in 2018/19.
Scoring 38 fewer goals, winning seven fewer matches, registering a negative differential of 39 in goal difference and gaining 19 fewer points. United also registered an average of four less shots per game, 3.4 fewer key passes and created 120 less chances than their ‘noisy neighbours’.
A repeat of these patterns cannot be countenanced.
This is a problem Mourinho faced ahead of 2011/12 when employed by Real Madrid. Barcelona appeared at their zenith under Pep Guardiola’s aegis and with Lionel Messi blossoming into a devastating force of historic power.
Los Blancos responded with 121 goals – the most-prolific season on record in La Liga – to wrestle the crown back to the Spanish capital.
#MUFC is delighted to announce it has reached an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk for the transfer of Fred.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 5, 2018
More details: https://t.co/uQM1R6bmgH pic.twitter.com/52Kg4k2jT8
Repeating the trick against Guardiola’s current employers is a necessity as Mourinho attempts to quieten the dissenting voices within the unsettled Theatre of Dreams for his critical third season at the helm.
Fred’s recruitment from Shakhtar Donetsk – an objective suitors City failed to complete in January – acts as a totem for what lies ahead.
His demarcation for the Ukraine Ukrainian Premier League winners and with the national team is defensive midfield.
In a Champions League campaign during which he wowed twice against City, he led the way for Shakhtar in tackles per match (2.9). So far, so normal.
But he was also joint third for shots (1.6), first for dribbles (2.9), joint third for key passes (1.1), had the highest average passes (56.8) and made the joint-third highest long balls (5.4).
This is the all-action practitioner Anderson once promised to be.
It is not someone just brought in to add ballast alongside Serbia’s Nemanja Matic, or simply facilitate more freedom for France’s Paul Pogba – a jubilant player who befuddles both Mourinho and Les Bleus’ tactician Didier Deschamps.
Fred will do both these things. But he also brings so much more to this stodgy United.
In the 2017/18 Champions League, he created more chances than Pogba and made more tackles than Matic. Vitally, his talents and outlook represent a sizeable upgrade on Ander Herrera – the reigning ‘third man’ at United.
Whether deployed in a centre-midfield three, or in front of the defence as a two, Fred widens the parameters.
Mourinho has chased Guardiola down before – and this signing sends a message that he can do it again.
