Fenerbahce president Ali Koc is delighted with the deal which brought Fred to Istanbul from Premier League giants Manchester United, explaining how a bargain £13 million came about over the summer.
With Manchester United on a run of five defeats in their last seven games, Fred could be forgiven for feeling that his decision to embark upon a fresh start, in a new league and a new country, has already been justified.
Remarkably, Fenerbahce have won 100 per cent of the games in which the Brazilian has featured since his £13 million arrival. By an aggregate score of 25-4, no less.
And, speaking to Sozcu, Fener’s president was keen to pile praise upon the club’s sporting director Mario Branco and his assistant Okan Ozkan, reacting in double-quick time after the opportunity to bring in a highly-experienced, long-serving Manchester United midfielder presented itself at the start of August.
Former Man United star Fred shinining in Turkey
“We had a successful transfer season,” Koc explains.
“With Fred, we had a meeting at my house. Mr. Selahattin (Baki, a Fenerbahce board member) was in London for another matter. I get a call from England; ‘If you want Fred, come immediately’.
“Two hours later the plane arrived. (Branco and Ozkan) had no luggage or anything. They jumped on the plane and went. They finished the job in Manchester that night, and worked very well as a team.
“I thank them very much.”
Fred is certainly justifying Fenerbahce’s investment.
Alongside fellow new arrivals Edin Dzeko, Dusan Tadic and Sebastian Szymanski, the all-action 30-year-old is laying the foundations for a genuine title charge.
Fenerbahce haven’t claimed the Turkish Super Lig crown for a decade but, if their current form can be maintained, Galatasaray will soon be bolting the doors to the kingdom as their bitter rivals from across Istanbul storm the castle.
A Turkish league title on the cards
“We have to give Fred his due. He played a very good game,” former Turkey international Ilker Yagcioglu told TRT Sport after the Manchester United cult hero stood out again during the recent 1-0 triumph at Alanyaspor.
“His relationship with (fellow midfielder) Ismail Yuksek is also very successful. Just as we talked about (ex-Arsenal ace Lucas) Torreira being good, Fred was also very good this week.
“He played a great game in both halves.”
The post President admits his club 'jumped on the plane' to sign £13m Man United ace appeared first on United In Focus.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/6jQ4ZTe