With Manchester United making their biggest purchases of the summer by late August, it even seemed like the Red Devils were having some kind of panic buy at that stage.
The most unexpected signing of the transfer window was certainly Casemiro, who suddenly chose to leave Real Madrid, a club where he literally won everything, to try a new adventure in the Premier League.
And even though many people still think that was a transfer that was only worked on in the final weeks of the transfer window, there’s someone who claims to have known about that plan for months. That’s Manchester United midfielder Fred.
The 29-year-old gave this week a very long interview to TNT Sports, and when speaking of Casemiro, he was first asked about what his Seleção teammate has been bringing to the Red Devils since joining in the summer.
“Everyone knows he is one of the best players there, who has won a lot at Real Madrid in recent years. So he’s a very experienced guy,” Fred told TNT Sports.
“On the pitch he’s a great player and off the pitch he has a huge amount of experience. So he’s a guy who adds a lot, both on and off the pitch, he adds a lot in the locker room. And it’s a pleasure to be able to play alongside him, these great players here at United.”
Then reporter Fred Caldeira asked if he got surprised to see Casemiro leaving Real Madrid to join Manchester United.
That’s when he revealed that they had been in contact about that move for a long time.
“Man, at first, yes. I found out well before they announced it. A few months before, we had already talked, me and him. We had a nice chat, he had asked how it was, I explained everything to him, what was happening at the club, that it was not one of the best moments, but which, as I said, would be a fresh start with the arrival of a new coach.”
“And he liked the project, thought it would be a cool project and decided to join us. And as I said, we are on a good path, we are winning some games, we have already beaten some of the big six clubs as well. So, as I said, it’s a process and at first we are on the right path.”
