Jose Mourinho: How new Man United signing can help us
The Manchester United manager explains how Fred can improve the 20-time English champions
Jose Mourinho believes Manchester United signing Fred can add more quality to the Portuguese manager’s midfield next season.
The Red Devils signed the South American in a £52m deal from Ukrainian Premier League champions Shakhtar Donetsk last month to improve Mourinho’s options in the middle of the park.
Manchester United managed to see off competition from Premier League champions Manchester City to sign Fred at the start of the summer transfer window.
Fred will help to fill the void left by Michael Carrick after the former England international announced his retirement at the end of the 2017-18 season.
The 25-year-old has scored 14 goals in 156 games in all competitions over the past five seasons at Shakthar, winning three league titles and three cups in Ukraine.
Asked where Fred will play in the Manchester United team next season, Mourinho said:
“People like Nemanja Matic, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba, even Ander Herrera, are physical and strong midfielders.
“We think that players like Fred, and Andreas Pereira, are more technical, passing and playing in short spaces and maybe connecting with the attacking players.”
Mourinho has also signed Portuguese defender Diogo Dalot and Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant in the summer transfer window.
Manchester United finished in second place in the Premier League table last season to finish above Spurs and Liverpool FC.
The Red Devils lost 1-0 to Chelsea FC in the FA Cup final at Wembley last season following Eden Hazard’s winner from the penalty spot.
