Roy Keane, the former Manchester United captain, has made a significant reversal in his assessment of current Red Devils midfielder Fred. Having previously accused the Brazilian of 'cheating' during a 2019 derby defeat to Manchester City, Keane has recently praised Fred's performances under manager Erik ten Hag.
During a Sky Sports analysis of the 2019 match, Keane criticised Fred for not tracking his runner, stating: 'That isn't giving his all, that is cheating. Just cheating letting the guy run off him.' The comment sparked a disagreement with fellow pundit Gary Neville, who defended the players' effort.
However, after Fred scored off the bench in a Carabao Cup win over Reading earlier this season, Keane told ITV Sport: 'That's probably what I think is his role - coming off the bench... He just walks in there, he's obviously got a trick, lovely little finish.'
Fred has previously addressed the criticism, telling TNT Sports: 'They had many moments of glory for United and now they're paid to give opinions, so I'm fine with it. It's their job and it's their right to do so.'
