Fred's agent, Marcelo Pettinati, started working with the midfielder in 2023, and the Atlético-MG was his first choice club in Brazil. The Ajax was a strong interested in signing Fred, but the Atlético-MG offered a better contract.
The Atlético-MG paid 2 million euros to Fenerbahçe for Fred's release, and also agreed to pay 500,000 euros to Fenerbahçe for metas esportivas. Fred will wear the number 7 shirt at Atlético-MG, left by Hulk.
Pettinati explained that the transfer began when he started working with Fred in 2023, and the midfielder had always expressed his desire to play for Atlético-MG. The club's first contact with Fred came over a year ago, and the negotiations intensified in December.
The Atlético-MG offered a three-and-a-half-year contract, with an option for a further year, which gave Fred the opportunity to be guaranteed until he is 37. The club's structure and the chance to fulfill Fred's dream made the difference in his decision to join Atlético-MG.
Fred will now occupy the position of reference left by Hulk, wearing the number 7 shirt, and will have the weight of filling the space left by the idol in the coming years.