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Man Utd news: Fred lifts lid on Man City snub, reveals former Arsenal star played key role
MANCHESTER UNITED new boy Fred has revealed that former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva played a pivotal role in him joining the Premier League side.
Fred joined Jose Mourinho’s side earlier this summer from Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of £52million.
The Brazil international was on the radar of United’s neighbours Manchester City but opted to move to Old Trafford.
And it seems the former Internacional star’s decision to snub the reigning Premier League champions was in part down to a chat with his fellow countryman Gilberto, who now acts as his agent.
"Gilberto was a top midfielder who played for Arsenal," Fred told ManUtd.com.
”But he has a lot of respect for Manchester United, who are obviously a big club here in England.
"He praised the club a lot and, after he was granted the opportunity to speak to Jose Mourinho and other senior figures at United, we made the decision together for me to come here. We decided it would be a good move for me.
"Gilberto is a top guy and his advice means a lot to me.
“He played in the same position as I do and he won the Premier League, so I look to him for inspiration, I listen to what he has to say and I take on board what he tells me."
We made the decision together for me to come here
Fred, 25, has started both of United’s league games this season but has yet to get off the mark for the Red Devils.
United boss Jose Mourinho was happy with what he saw of the midfielder in his debut against Leicester, saying: “I think Fred, already with only 70/75 minutes at Old Trafford, I think people already like him.
"People can already feel his positive influence on the team and on the style of football that the team wants to play.
"When we brought him here, we knew he could influence the dynamic because he could attract other people to follow him in the way he thinks football and the way he likes to play football.
"So we are really happy. And a part of that is his character, he's a good guy to have around, a funny guy and a guy who always has a smile on his face.
"He doesn't speak good English but he speaks with everyone and understands everyone and they understand him.
“He's a really, really good guy and he brought new music to the place because we were a bit tired of [David] De Gea and Ashley Young's music all the time!"