Fred didn’t travel with the Fluminense squad to Porto Alegre after the club made a last minute decision to leave the captain behind because the striker was still feeling pain in his left calf.
The Fluminense captain picked up the injury during Fluminense’s 2-1 win over Ceará. Fred was given two days off training to recover and then returned to training on the Friday leading up to the Internacional game. After the training session, the Seleção striker was still feeling pain in his left calf and was then immediatly sent off to a private clinic to have an MRI scan. The results revealed that there was no major injury and Fred would be able to play the Inter game.
Abel Braga decided not to include Fred in the squad, selecting Rafael Moura to partner Rafael Sobis upfront instead.
After Fluminense’s 2-1 win over Internacional, Abel Braga said he wouldn’t bow down to the pressure from ‘outside’ influences, and instead said he could rely on the strength of the squad.
Braga told the press, ”some people need to lose vanity. Who appears are the players. Each one needs to be put in their place. They tried to force Fred in to the squad, but the football deparment is closed. Fred is currently the best player in Brazil, but whats the point in bringing him today if he gets injured. The player was feeling uncomfortable.”
Braga didn’t say who tried to influence his decision to play Fred, but reports are suggesting he had a conversation with the vice president of Fluminense medical department, Sergio Galvao.
