The progress made by Fred at Manchester United this season has been “fantastic”, admits Michael Carrick, with there considered to be even more to come from the £52.5 million ($69m) midfielder.
A Brazil international was acquired by the Red Devils during the summer of 2018, with rival interest from neighbours Manchester City fended off in order to secure his signature.
His arrival at Old Trafford was considered to be quite a coup, with big things expected of the South American in English football.
Fred’s debut campaign did not really go to plan, with only 17 Premier League starts taken in, but he has caught the eye in 2019-20 after earning the trust of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The 26-year-old has had to step up during injury-enforced absences for the likes of Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, with Carrick pleased to see his potential being fulfilled.
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The former United star, who is now part of Solskjaer’s coaching team, told the club’s official website of Fred: “I think he’s done great.
“It’s not always easy, I think history tells you that. When you look through the pages of this club, when new signings have come in, sometimes it takes a little time to adapt, you know that, and it doesn’t mean they’re not good players or they don’t have real good quality in their play.
“I think it’s just what playing for this club brings and playing in the league. The Premier League is so different to other leagues so, sometimes, it takes time to get used to it, but credit to Fred.
“He’s stuck at it, he’s learnt and he’s been willing to put the work in and try to improve.
“He’s been fantastic for quite some time now and I’m sure there’s more to come, because he’s that kind of boy.
“He wants to keep improving, he wants to keep learning and getting better and there’s plenty more to improve, like any player, so we’ll keep working at it.”
Fred should be raring to go when United return to action on Monday with a trip to Chelsea, with the Red Devils having been taking in their winter break, and Carrick is looking for Solskjaer’s side to surge across the finishing line in Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League competition.
He added: “This is when it counts now, the business part of the season when cup runs are coming towards the end of the competitions and you want to be in there challenging.
“This is the point I always loved and thrived on as a player, because this is when it really matters.”