GARY NEVILLE IS disappointed with the impact Fred has had since moving to Manchester United in the summer, suggesting his former club may have overpaid for his signature.
The Brazilian was the subject of a fierce tussle between Manchester rivals United and City, before finally opting for the red half of the city.
United paid out a fee of £50 million for his services, but so far have received little on their investment. Fred has appeared just seven times in the Premier League for his new club, prompting Neville to doubt the wisdom of his signing.
“Fred at £50m, he started the first game of the season and he looked bright, he looked tidy — but does he look like what you would expect for £50m?” the former United defender said on the Gary Neville Podcast.
“Does he change a game? Does it look like he’s going to defend your goal? Does it look like he’s going to connect back-to-front? At this moment in time, no.”
Neville did concede that his old employers might yet get the best out of him, but wondered why he was not picked in Sunday’s derby defeat to City even when Paul Pogba withdrew due to injury.
“He’s still developing,” Neville added. “He’s still getting used to Manchester United and he’s coming into a very difficult position in the sense that the club aren’t the most stable at this moment in time in terms of their performance levels and the scrutiny that’s been on the club in the past three or four months.
“So, I wouldn’t put it all onto Fred, but you have to ask the question: where was he [on Sunday] in that central midfield?”
That 3-1 reverse at the hands of their rivals leaves the Reds languishing in eighth place in the Premier League, a massive 12 points behind leaders City. They also trail Tottenham by seven points in the race for the last qualifying spot for the Champions League.
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You could sign Ronaldo, Messi, Ramos, and Neymar and Mbapee and United would still be sat mid table. As long as they have a manager who refuses to play football and who also sets up teams to draw matche or grab a one nil win, United will not go anywhere. They have a serious squad of talent if used the right way. Sanchez, Pogba and Fred have not become bad players
@Philip Morgan: Draconian football. Game has moved on since his unreal achievement at Inter. Klopp and Pep have moved with it. José won’t. How a team with Martial Mata Fred Pogba Matic De Gea Valencia Rashford Sanchez Lukaku etc are where they are is not baffling. It’s obvious. It’s José. Simple as that. Imagine how someone like Eddie Howe would have that team playing.
@Mike Lyn: Eddie Howe, now there’s a name I never thought of. Young manager with lots of experience, and plays quality football. Always sets up his teams positively and players play for him.
@Conor M: Bang on. Perfect fit only for, would he be given time frame ,and capable of managing big egos. He is a class act. Conducts himself impeccably all the time, win lose or draw.
The same could be said about Fabinho at Liverpool. He has looked very average in the handful of games he has played in and you don’t hear anyone giving out about Klopp over it.
Most players need time to settle in. Next season we will see how good Fred is, that’s if he is still there.
@Maureen: Of course he will be there unless you’re going to buy him are you ?
@Mike Lyn: Well the likes of Falcao and Di Maria didn’t last long at United. It wouldnt be much of a surprise if he was flogged off at the end of the season if his form doesn’t improve soon. It seems to be the United way lately both on and off the field!
@Maureen: ah will he go on off with yourself using rational arguments this is a United article
I imagine the chasm between the Ukranian league and the Premier league is significant never mind coming into a team that is out of sorts. In my eyes it is harsh to judge him until next season. If United were playing well judgements might be made sooner. He’s also suffering from the fact he was the only big signing United made this window and everybody including his manager keeps going on about what a disappointing window it has been.
We’ll learn a lot from Mourinho if he throws Lukaku back in on a regular basis when he’s fit. It’s then when we know if he knows what he’s doing. Fred is nowhere near worth 50m but he’s not had the chance. I’m personally not expecting a lot from him. This lad could easily be another Djemba Djemba.
@Simon Doherty: for you a pool jersey for Xmas kid.
@Shane Doherty: Thanks Dad.
@Simon Doherty: what’s wrong with that
Ya tosspot
There’s a number of things you can blame Mourinho for at Utd; his inability to play attacking football, his inability to get the best out of Lukaku, Pogba and Sanchez, making Ashley Young captain, his ongoing moaning about not being able to sign more players despite spending a fortune, but you can’t complain about a new signing being integrated into a team that’s struggling!
Waste of money.
Gary good player respect you as a player but as a man united fan his opinions are just wrong