Former Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva says his compatriot Fred has all of the ingredients to be a success at Manchester United following his move from Shakhtar Donetsk this summer.
Gilberto was a 2002 World Cup winner and won a league title and 2 FA Cps during his spell at Arsenal. He is now Fred’s agent.
Gilberto told Manchester United’s official website, “He’s a mixture of a no.6 and a no.8. He can play in both positions and he played in many different roles in his early days, including as a winger.
“He’s a real box-to-box midfielder and his final pass is really good. The combination with Fred can really help Pogba. With Fred, Pogba can be more free to go forward and help the guys up front, as he likes to do.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the combination with Fred, Pogba and Matic, and how Jose is going to use them.” Gilberto does not foresee the same issues his Brazil midfield partner Kleberson had when he moved to United in 2002.
“When Kleberson went to United, he was too shy and introverted to play for such a big club, and he struggled with injuries. And with Anderson, it was quite sad for me that he couldn’t adapt at United and stay longer at the club.
“If you find it difficult to adapt, you have to work at it, because there are always challenges wherever you go. But with the experience that Fred already has of playing abroad, five years in Ukraine and playing in the Champions League, he has an advantage.
“When we went to Manchester to complete the move, he asked the club to have a teacher, not a translator. This is a good sign, not to have a translator on a daily basis, which is the easy option.
“He’s eager to learn the language, the culture, the way the club is – everything. I don’t see any problem with him adapting to playing in England and being a success at United.”
