Fred's first professional goal was scored against Atlético-MG, a fact that may raise eyebrows given his return to the club. Fred was trained by Enderson Moreira in his youth and played as a left-back. The midfielder's talent was evident from an early age, and he quickly became a key player for the club. However, when Fred was on the verge of turning 16, he left the club without a professional contract in place. At the time, the law did not protect the club that formed the player, and the contract of formation for young players was not sanctioned until 2011.
Fred went on to play for Internacional for a year before moving to Manchester United. He then played two seasons for Atlético-MG's professional team, playing 55 games, scoring 8 goals, and making 6 assists. Fred's return to Atlético-MG has been met with excitement, and the midfielder has spoken fondly of his time at the club.