Who’s This 24-Year-Old Fernandinho Replacement On Manchester City’s Radar? Everything You Need To Know

Scout Report – Frederico Rodrigues Santos

Manchester City are reportedly interested in a January move for Shakhtar Donetsk’s 24-year-old midfielder Frederico Rodrigues Santos. More commonly known as Fred, the player has attracted attention from a lot of clubs owing to his stellar displays for the Ukrainian club in the middle. It is understood that he caught Pep Guardiola’s fancy when the two sides faced off in a Champions League encounter and the manager is keen on bringing the young talent to the Etihad Stadium.

Fred does seem like a worthy player and City are known to not give up on pursuing their targets. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the youngster’s profile.

History

Born in 1993 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Fred initially joined Atletico Mineiro in 2003. He spent six long years at the club, following which he made a move to Porto Allegre. However, the player barely spent a year there and eventually switched to Sport Club Internacional. He gradually progressed through the ranks and earned himself a professional contract in two years. He made 33 appearances for the side and then joined Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013. In his debut match, Fred scored two goals for the side which established himself as a firm fan favourite.

As far as his international career goes, Fred has appeared for the Brazilian U20 side as well as the national team.

Playing Style

Long-range shots seem to be his forte and the player is quite impressive when it comes to defensive contribution as well. Fred can dominate proceedings in the middle while also supporting the team in forward runs, making him quite a sturdy figure in the midfield. His passing skills are quite admirable even though he does get fouled often. An out-and-out counter-attacking threat, Fred’s dribbling and tackling skills are top-notch.

He does lack aerial strength but that is a skill he can improve in the future.

Fred’s Future

Guardiola is keen on securing a long-term replacement for Fernandinho and Fred does seem to boast of a lot of qualities which are enough to establish himself as an option to do just that. He is more than capable of playing as a holding midfielder and considering the fact that Yaya Toure will be out of contract in the summer, making a move for Fred does seem like a step in the right direction. Also, the way City have been playing is likely to make the Etihad sound like an enticing option for the Brazilian to consider.