When you think of Fred, the name might instantly bring to mind the relentless central midfielder who tirelessly chases opponents across the pitch for Manchester United. But Fred’s story goes far beyond his dynamic performances on the field. This article takes you on a journey through Fred’s life, delving into his background and personal history rather than just his football skills.
Exploring Fred’s Life Beyond Football: Origins, Support, and Success
Fred’s story is one of resilience and determination, tracing his rise from the favelas of his homeland, Brazil, to the iconic stadiums of Europe. Known for his relentless energy and presence in midfield, Fred’s tale is not just about his on-field prowess but also about his origins, the support system that helped shape him, and the journey that propelled him to prominence.
Join us as we break down the fascinating story of Fred, a footballer whose journey embodies the true spirit of the game. Let’s dive into his life story and explore the journey that made him the player he is today.
Fred’s Childhood Story – Early and Family Background:
For starters, Fred’s full name is Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos—’Fred’ is just a nickname. Born on March 5th, year 1993, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Fred is the son of Roseli Miranda de Paula and Delson Rodrigues dos Santos.
Hailing from a modest background with football connections, Fred’s family remains largely private, with only rumors linking them to the family of Brazilian and Barcelona legend Ronaldinho. Growing up in a football-loving community, Fred’s childhood was defined by a deep passion for the game, turning his dreams of becoming a professional footballer into reality through sheer determination.
Career in Summary:
To start with, it’s worth noting that Fred’s entry into football was supported by Roberto de Assis, Ronaldinho’s brother, as seen in the photo below.
Roberto de Assis (Ronaldinho’s brother) greatly influenced Fred’s upbringing.
Fred, just like Savinho, started his football journey at Atlético Mineiro at the age of 10 in the year 1993. It’s also worth noting that Roberto de Assis, Ronaldinho’s elder brother and mentor, has spent some time in prison.
After closing in on rounding up his youth career, Fred, with the help of Roberto de Assis, got himself transferred to other clubs in a bid to get more experience and in preparation for Europe.
In 2009, he joined Porto Alegre, a club that made him change his position from left-back to midfield.
Fred finally settled the final stages of his youth career at Internacional in 2011, a move still facilitated by Ronaldinho’s brother Roberto de Assis.
After a season of his senior career at the club, European scouts from Shakhtar Donetsk picked him up to replace Fernandinho, who went to Manchester City.
At Ukraine, the Brazil midfielder felt comfortable as both a destroyer and creator. He formed part of a thrilling and penetrative attacking unit. After Fred’s success with Shakhtar Donetsk came the slow but steady rise of Mykhailo Mudryk at the club.
This attribute led Manchester United to acquire him in 2018. The rest, as they say, is now history.
Fred Love Story with Monique Salum:
Football is a golden tree, a place where millions of youth have found shade away from the reality of low-paying professions.
For Fred, football is a golden tree that has led him to find love. Fred’s Girlfriend, Monique Salum, is, without a doubt, an enamoured natural beauty to behold.
Two love birds – Fred and Monique Salum.
On his Instagram page, the Brazilian ace once appeared absolutely attracted in Love for his girlfriend. The post he made reads, “Only we understand our madness. Only love.” Fred’s girlfriend Monique Salum has several of her man’s funny pics dedicated to her.
Fred once used International Women’s Day to post a picture of his girlfriend in admiration for her love for him.
In the post, Fred said:
“International Women’s Day and I want to congratulate all women and especially those who are by my side and who are the women of my life, thank you for everything you do and have done for me. Love yo
Aside from football, both lovers are basketball fans. Below is a photo of the couple after watching a game in Orlando, United States.
Judging from the way Fred and Monique are into themselves, it’s only a matter of time before he proposes. Who Knows! …Fingered Crossed!!
About Fred’s Agent:
Perhaps you might be thinking Fred’s agent is no other than Ronaldinho’s elder brother, Roberto de Assis, owing to the fact that he’s been there for him all the way. Unfortunately, You are wrong!
The Arsenal midfield legend Gilberto Silva represents Fred on football agent matters at the time of writing.
Gilberto Silva is both a mentor and an agent to Fred. Gilberto once said of Fred;
“Since I started working with Fred, he’s been a big challenge for me as well, because it wasn’t my calling to be a mentor, private coach and agent”
Fred Biography Facts – Stop the War OR No Football:
Simply known as ‘Donetsk no-show.’
In July 2014, as the Russia-Ukraine crisis intensified, Fred was one of six Shakhtar players who chose not to return to Donetsk.
The war in Eastern Ukraine caused Shakhtar’s billionaire owner, Rinat Akhmetov, to lose control of his players’ commitment to his coal-mining and metallurgical enterprises in the eastern rebel-held territories.
Upon hearing that six of his footballers, including Fred, had threatened to leave his club, he decided to switch their “home” venue to the eastern city of Kharkiv, 250km northwest of their native Donetsk.
Tested Positive for Drug:
The Brazilian star once failed a drug test. He tested positive for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide in a sample collected during the 2015 Copa América.
Upon being found guilty, Fred received a one-year suspension, which was backdated to the tournament.
More so, after he played the first half of the 2016–17 season, the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed a demand for a fresh two-year suspension.
After a lengthy review, Fred was ultimately suspended for four months from March to July 2017.
His City:
Do you remember Brazil’s biggest defeat in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, in which Toni Kroos became the showman? If Yes, then you should know that the event happened in Belo Horizonte, a city where Fred was born and bred.
Ideally, Belo Horizonte hosted matches at the 1950 and 2014 World Cups. The city staged two of the tournament’s biggest-ever shocks – England’s 1-0 defeat to the USA in 1950 and Brazil’s 7-1 semi-final thrashing to Germany in 2014. Eight years later, Fred had another moment of defeat, this time, being at the forefront of criticism in Brazil’s 2022 FIFA World Cup exit.
Injury after United Acquisition:
Manchester United was happy after signing Fred. But a few weeks later, the club was left sweating with fears after the Brazilian midfielder got on the receiving end of a hefty slide tackle from defensive midfield enforcer Casemiro during an international training session.
Fred was later pictured receiving medical treatment during a Brazil training session. His pains left Manchester United Fans worried.
Fred Name Fact:
So many Brazilian footballers, including Fred, have agreed to have short and simple names on the back of their shirts.
When Fred began his senior career, Fred decided not to use his full name but to shorten it to the nickname “Fred”.
The use of first names and nicknames is not new in Brazil. It is a tradition in Brazilian culture that dates back to colonial times. Using Nicknames on shirts is seen as a sign of individuality. Now, we will give you some examples.
Brazil’s most famous son, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is known by the nickname ‘Pele‘. Secondly, the individual nicknames of former Ballon d’Or winners Kaka and Ronaldinho are Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite and Ronaldo de Assis Moreira. Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, AKA Brazilian Ronaldo, is off the list.
Fact Check:
Thanks for reading our Fred Childhood Story, plus untold biography facts. We strive for accuracy and fairness in our delivery of Brazilian football stories, as we have done for names like Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton. If you see something that doesn’t look right in this article on Fred, please place your comment or contact us!
