Manchester United player’s World Cup campaign unlikely to change his role under Erik ten Hag
The playmaker appeared in just two World Cup games as Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Croatia.
When Casemiro joined Manchester United from Real Madrid in the summer, his midfield pairing with Fred was rather emphasized.
The pair frequently played together in World Cup qualifying, but not so much during the tournament itself this month. During the group stages, Casemiro started all four of his matches and scored the late winner in a 1-0 victory over Switzerland.
The midfielder was never taken off, unlike his countryman Fred, who started only two of his four appearances and did not complete the full 90 minutes. At Old Trafford, he may have to adjust to game time.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the 29-year-old is one of five players whose one-year contracts are due to be extended by United when their current contracts expire in June.
Fred has appeared in 16 games for Erik ten Hag but has only started seven of them. He’s only played the entire game three times, which is unusual for him given his partnership with Scott McTominay, both of whom are now rotation players.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the 29-year-old is one of five players whose one-year contracts are due to be extended by United when their current contracts expire in June.
Fred has appeared in 16 games for Erik ten Hag but has only started seven of them. of a normal person looking for a chance to win a game of a person’s might.
This season, Fred has not been given consistent extended game time, usually having to settle for substitute appearances after a couple of starts. It’s all been irregular, similar to his effort in Qatar.
In reality, he has done nothing to upset the balance of the midfield combination Ten Hag has built since his arrival. Fred hasn’t seen much of his national teammate Casemiro this season, with Christian Eriksen keeping his spot despite being arguably United’s greatest player so far.
Attack-minded The final center undroppable is Bruno Fernandes. Fred has struggled to regain his place in the starting XI, and things are unlikely to get much easier.
Ten Hag will want to stock up throughout his rebuild, which will inevitably lead to the entrance of a new midfielder at some point. If his contract extension is activated, he will have three more transfer windows to complete.
That’s not to suggest he won’t play a part. The Brazilian has been a consistent and valuable asset, demonstrating his ability with his opener against Tottenham.
But, on the other hand, he’s been given plenty of chances to show himself under Ten Hag, and being put on the bench for the final two league games before the World Cup break may not be the best response.
Furthermore, he has only started two Premier League games since coming in as a half-time substitute in August’s 4-0 loss to Brentford. His management is still keen to keep him on after the summer, but it appears like he will be in a rotational role, with starts contingent on injuries, suspensions, and cup games.
