Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos, known as Fred, is a professional footballer born on 5 March 1993 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Playing in the central midfield position, Fred has been recognized throughout his career for his technical ability, vision and high work rate. He began his football career in Brazil’s youth academies and later played for top clubs in Europe and Türkiye. He has gained international experience at both club and national team levels.

Early Life and Youth Career

Fred began his football education at Atlético Mineiro’s youth academy, where he developed his fundamental technical skills. He later transferred to the youth setup of Porto Alegre and elevated his abilities to a higher level. This period proved decisive in preparing him for his professional career.

Club Career

Internacional (2011–2013)

Fred began his professional career at Internacional, where he played in the Brazilian Serie A and national tournaments. During this time, he won Campeonato Gaúcho titles, and his performances attracted the attention of European clubs.

Shakhtar Donetsk (2013–2018)

In 2013, Fred transferred to Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk. He won three league titles, three Ukrainian Cups and three Ukrainian Super Cups with the club. He regularly featured in matches of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. In 2015, after testing positive for a banned substance during the Copa América, he received a one-year ban from CONMEBOL; FIFA extended this sanction globally.

Manchester United (2018–2023)

In the summer of 2018, Fred transferred to English Premier League side Manchester United. Over five seasons, he competed in the Premier League, EFL Cup and European competitions. He won the EFL Cup and finished as runner-up in the UEFA Europa League with the club.

Fenerbahçe (2023–present)

In the summer of 2023, Fred transferred to Fenerbahçe. Playing in midfield in Süper Lig and UEFA Europa Conference League matches, he has contributed to the team’s balance and organization.

National Team Career

After representing Brazil’s youth national teams, Fred was promoted to the senior national team in 2014. Between 2014 and 2022, he made 45 appearances for the Brazil national team and scored six goals. Playing in midfield, he was noted for his distribution, ball recovery and defensive support.

Fred participated in Copa América tournaments with the national team. He played in the 2015 Copa América but received a one-year ban from CONMEBOL after testing positive for a banned substance during the tournament. FIFA enforced this sanction internationally, covering all national team matches. After serving his suspension, Fred returned to the national team for the 2016 and 2019 Copa América tournaments and the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

During his time with the national team, Fred consistently fulfilled roles such as controlling the tempo of play, organizing short passes and supporting defensive efforts. This period was evaluated alongside his club performances and contributed to Brazil’s midfield depth.

Playing Style and Technical Attributes

Fred, who plays as a central midfielder, is capable of fulfilling both defensive and offensive duties. He contributes to his team by organizing passing patterns, winning back possession and applying pressure. His physical stamina and versatile understanding of the game enhance his on-field performance.

Achievements

Fred’s club career achievements reflect the competitive strength of each team he represented, both nationally and internationally. With Internacional, he won Campeonato Gaúcho titles. At Shakhtar Donetsk, he won the Ukrainian Premier League three times, the Ukrainian Cup three times and the Ukrainian Super Cup three times. With Manchester United, he won the EFL Cup and finished as runner-up in the UEFA Europa League. After transferring to Fenerbahçe in 2023, he won the Turkish Super Cup. These accomplishments demonstrate concretely Fred’s impact in midfield and the value he brings to his teams.