Jose Mourinho will be reunited with ex-Manchester United midfielder Fred when he becomes Fenerbahce’s next manager.
The ‘Special One’ is set to become the Turkish’s giants new boss, having been out of work since leaving Roma in January.
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Mourinho knows one of his new players very wellCredit: Getty
talkSPORT understands the 61-year-old held talks with Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah over their managerial vacancy, but he is expected to be announced as Fenerbahce’s new manager.
And the move will see Mourinho link up with a number of familiar faces.
Brazilian Fred was signed by Mourinho in 2018, joining from Shakhtar Donetsk for £47million.
But despite arriving off the back of the 2018 World Cup and an impressive season in Ukraine, Fred only played 27 games in his first campaign.
Under Mourinho, the midfielder made just six starts before the boss was sacked in December 2018, which led to Fred losing his place in the Brazil squad.
Speaking at the time, Fred said: “I’ve played very little at United, so it’s normal for Professor Tite not to be able to evaluate me, even though I’ve worked hard with him before.
“Of course, I was annoyed, but I have to know how to deal with the sadness to be able to help me take a step forward.
“The coach has chosen not to put in the team. That’s his choice. I still do my job and I can’t let it affect my mindset, I cannot let that shake me. I have to be patient.
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Fred was on the bench for most of his first season at Old TraffordCredit: getty
“It’s been a difficult start for me at United because I have not been playing so much.”
Fred also acknowledged he needed time to adapt to the Premier League, which is something Mourinho himself noted when he addressed the issue in December that year.
Jose Mourinho reveals that he rejected the Portuguese managerial job twice earlier in his career
“Step by step,” he told reporters when asked why Fred hadn’t been playing. “You also have other players at other clubs that needed their time and you have some of them that play even less than what Fred is playing.
“I think Fred [will play more], when the team is defensively stronger and doesn’t need in midfield people that are more worried about giving some balance to the team than being involved in creation and attacking dynamics.
“The day we are stronger defensively, I think the horizons for Fred change completely.”
Just 11 days after Mourinho’s comments, the former Chelsea boss was sacked.
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Fred made 56 appearances in all competitions in his final season at Old Trafford
He led United to League Cup and Europa League titles during his time there, but had them 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool by the time he left.
Fred, meanwhile, left Old Trafford last summer having made 213 appearances in five seasons, scoring 14 goals.
Mourinho’s Fenerbahce squad will also include former Southampton forward Dusan Tadic, as well as ex-Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi.
Ex-Man City star Edin Dzeko, who departed Roma for Inter Milan two months after Mourinho’s arrival, is also at Fenerbahce.
The Super Lig club finished runners-up behind rivals Galatasaray having won successive league titles in 2022 and 2023.
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