Fred might be the worst signing in Manchester United's history and he wasn't even wanted by then manager Jose Mourinho last summer.
Not many of United players aren't getting criticised by fans and pundits alike but midfielder Fred is perhaps coming under the most as he moves from bad performance to bad performance.
Ever since moving to the club in July 2018 for £52 million things haven't gone well for the Brazilian and, according to the Athletic, Mourinho didn't even want to sign him.
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In an article about Ed Woodward the website claims that Mourinho only accepted the deal because he feared the alternative was not signing a midfielder, with the executive vice-chairman wanting the player.
It wasn't the only problem that summer where transfers and Mourinho were concerned. The manager was desperately in need of a centre back but the club, and mainly Woodward, wouldn't sanction a move for one.
Both Harry Maguire and Kalidou Koulibaly were high on the 'Special One's' list but only Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant were signed by the club.
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Whilst Maguire had just come back off his incredible World Cup for England he still would have been cheaper than the £80 million the former Leicester City centre back ended up costing the Old Trafford a year later.
The Red Devils may have got a centre back in the summer to bolster Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side but things have only got worse as far as midfield has gone.
Since Mourinho left the club last December the team has lost Marouane Fellaini, who moved to China in January, and Ander Herrera, who left for PSG in the summer with his contract having expired.
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Solskjaer's side were linked to several midfielders, especially Bruno Fernandes and Sergej Milinković-Savić, but only Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James were added to the squad.
The club were expected to sign a director of football before they appointed Solskjaer as the full time manager but it didn't happen.
With a lack of options and quality Solskjaer's side have dropped to 12th in the table after just eight games and find themselves two points above the relegation zone.
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It's no wonder that everyone has come in for criticism but knowing that Mourinho didn't even want Fred means the former boss probably deserves a little less.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Harry Maguire, Football News, ed woodward, Jose Mourinho, Manchester United, Transfer stories, Premier League, Fred, Transfer news, Kalidou Koulibaly, Transfer reports