Manchester United begin their clearout at the start of pre-season

Fred missed the start of Manchester United's pre-season tour of Australia and Asia in 2019 as it clashed with his wedding. More bizarre was Fred already appeared to be married.

Fred assumed he would be on international duty with Brazil in the Copa America, so he would then be entitled to a three-week vacation at its conclusion.

Alas, the 2018-19 season - Fred's first with United - was so galling he was dropped by Brazil coach Tite and had a summer off. It was Fred's good fortune that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was his manager and not Jose Mourinho.

Still, Fred missed the nine-day stay in Perth and was excluded from the first four matchday squads of the season. This in a year United had already seen two midfield departures in Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera.

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Plenty of United players thought Solskjaer was a soft touch. Erik ten Hag isn't. He had no media obligations other than MUTV during United's whistle-stop stay in Oslo and by the time he is accessible on the pre-season tour of the United States Fred's absence may not be a burning topic.

Fred flew to Norway for the 2-0 win against Leeds but was absent from the matchday squad. United said his omission was a "precaution" and he is "managing his workload".

For context, Fred last played on June 3 - nearly six weeks ago - and he was not on international duty last month. He has enjoyed a holiday nearing five weeks, an allowance most UK workers get in a whole year. His workload has possibly consisted of building sandcastles with his four-year-old son.

United did not actually say if Fred was injured, either. The 30-year-old has long conducted injury-prevention measures and this could be another so as not to jeopardise a transfer.

Fulham