Manchester United midfielder Fred has revealed a piece of advice he was given by a coach at his former club in Brazil that still characterises how he plays the game today.
The 28-year-old spent three years at Internacional before moving to Europe, first to Shakhtar Donestk before making the move to Old Trafford in 2018.
It was when in Brazil that he came under the wing of former Internacional player Fernandão, a coach that Fred said had a major impact on his development as a player.
Anybody who has seen Fred playing for United can attest to his energy and desire and that approach stems from a piece of advice he received from Fernandão while at Internacional.
“I had a coach who was also a player. He joined soon after I'd turned professional at Inter. It was Fernandão, a former Internacional player," he told the United website .
“He put me in the first team and would always talk to me and I'll never forget his great advice. He told me to never lose this desire to play football, he saw me running, saw the desire I had.
“He told me that I was blessed and that I should never stop playing football with such desire, joy, and with a smile and that I'd go far and make history doing this.
“It was advice from one of my main coaches that helped me a lot and I'm really grateful to him for this.
“Unfortunately he is no longer with us [Fernandão passed away in a helicopter accident at the age of 36].
“I'm grateful for what he said to me as it helped me a lot.”
During his 'My Story' interview Fred also explained how he wanted to go back to college once his playing career has finished.
“My parents always said that I had to study. I wasn't the best of students, but I wanted, and still want, to achieve something,” he said.
“When I turned professional at Internacional, I could afford to go to university and I passed the entrance exam.
“I only completed two semesters before being transferred to Shakhtar [Donetsk, in 2013], but I would really like to go back. As soon as I retire, I'll look to go back or start again rather.
“Back to studying, do something else, go back to university as there's life after football, it's important we have knowledge in our lives.”
