Aniket Rai
Transfer News: Manchester United passed up on Ruben Neves because of Fred
According to United Muppetiers (h/t Express), Manchester United did not sign Ruben Neves from Wolves because he was too similar to Fred.
The Brazilian midfielder has become a regular feature in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s line-ups over the years. Signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018, Fred has featured in a combined 59 league games over the last two full seasons.
However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apparently wanted to go after a midfielder who sat deep and was good on the ball. Yves Bissouma and Declan Rice were also on United’s wishlist, only for them to stay at their respective clubs. (h/t Express)
Neves would have been a cracking addition to the team. The 24-year-old has already impressed with his performances at Wolverhampton Wanderers since arriving from Porto.
No Neves, no problem
His quality in the centre of the park for Wolves and the Portugal national team makes him a dependable option for just about any football club. Moreover, he is also four years younger than Fred, who continues to divide opinion amongst the Man United fanbase.
Despite already having a plethora of midfielders at their disposal, Neves’ potential addition would have made this an A-class transfer window for United. The Red Devils managed to finally sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for a £73million fee.
That was followed by Raphael Varane’s acquisition from Real Madrid, and the window ended with a bang with Cristiano Ronaldo’s much-awaited Old Trafford return. Despite not signing Neves, United fans should be optimistic.
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The club hasn’t looked this strong, at least on paper, under Solskjaer before and as for needing an option in midfield, there is always Donny van de Beek who can do a job in a double pivot if and when required.
