We all know that Manchester United midfielder Fred was heavily linked with a move to arch rivals City in January, but was the deal ever close to being completed?

The Brazil international signed for United this summer for a reported a £52m fee, making him Mourinho’s only real high profile signing during the transfer window.

Fred has had a fairly steady start to life at United so far, enduring the same amount of criticism as the whole team for their below par performances which has seen them lose two of their opening three games.

But the 25-year-old could have very easily been playing under Pep Guardiola at City, had he followed money in his decision making.

His agent, former midfielder Gilberto Silva, revealed how City made a ‘bigger offer’ for Fred in January.

“About Manchester City, he had the chance to leave in January,” Gilberto Silva told UOL.

“But Shakhtar vetoed, there was no conversation. A good offer arrived, even bigger than the one from now. But Shakhtar understood that he was the most important player of the club.

“They didn’t want to negotiate, vetoed the exit. We did the planning which was to leave in the summer and he bought the idea. Everything we talked about, he understood the process, bought the idea.

“It was cool, because the conduct before Shakhtar within the negotiation was very correct. Professional conduct on our part and the part of him also, for not having lost his performance [after the failed move to Manchester City].

“It was a negotiation opportunity that was passing. We explained to him and we said the club would not let him go. We could fight, but I said we wanted to do it differently.”

Fred has had a tough time at United so far, but his class is there for everyone to be seen. Once the Reds’ form begins to pick up, we will almost certainly see more from the No.17 as a result.