Fred 'ditches' Melbourne for DC

[northernspirit]

I wonder how accurate this is?
Would be a MASSIVE loss to MVFC

www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21353560-23215,00.html

Fred 'ditches' Melbourne for DC
By Sebastian Hassett
March 09, 2007 MELBOURNE Victory star Fred has quit the A-League to sign with US Major League Soccer powerhouse DC United, the Washington Post has reported.

The Brazilian has agreed terms with the MLS club, and his international clearance and work visa may be finalised before the end of next week, the paper reported.

He is reported to have agreed a four-year deal with DC United, with a base salary of approximately $US150,000 ($193,400) in 2007.

Fred proved to be a sensation for Victory, playing a leading role in the club's 2006-2007 A-League championship-winning capaign.

He scored four goals and contributed nine assists in 20 games, forming a lethal combination with Danny Allsopp and Archie Thompson.

Fred only recently had raised the prospect of becoming a naturalised Australian and playing for the national side.

"I would like that very much," Fred said late last month.

"It is a lot harder to play for Brazil.

"Besides, I feel half-Australian now."

But overseas clubs expressed an increasing interest as his profile grew, with clubs from Europe, South America and Asia said to have tabled offers.

Melbourne attempted to secure Fred's services for the long term, offering a three-year deal at the end of 2006, but he kept his options open.

A Victory spokesman said Fred was believed to be on holiday in Brazil, and he had not been made aware of any deal.

However, with Fred's contract with Victory having expired, he is allowed to sign for a new team without a transfer fee.

AAP

[skilbeck]

i read it as well, i dont know how accurate it is and it isnt good to the a league if it is losing its quality players from overseas like milton and fred

[Adz]

What a f***wit. Maybe he will become a US citizen now and play for USA.

[LeedsMariner#4]

i think ill wait for confirmation, as this articale is far from that

[brett]

Melbourne have said that nothing is certain and that his agent seems to be touting him around.

They didn't totally deny he could leave though.

[Pete]

With the successful season Fred's had, why not have an agent try to get him a better deal?
It may also be the reason for the story floating around about Greg Owens negotiating with Melbourne (Victory may know they can't snare Fred and they may be looking at Owens).

[northernspirit]

www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21356935-23215,00.html

Victory star for MLS
From correspondents in Washington
March 10, 2007 BRAZIL'S Fred, a key player as Melbourne Victory won the A-League last month, has finalised a deal to join Major League Soccer's DC United, the Washington Post reports today (AEDT).

Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper reports that a completed deal could be announced next week, and United is unlikely to have Helbert Frederico Carreiro da Silva (Fred) available for a continental Champions Cup match with Chivas next Thursday.

Fred, 27, shared the A-League's Most Valuable Player award, and his deal will pay $US150,000 ($192,000) this year, with league options for the next three years. MLS contracts are with the US league not specific clubs.

Despite sharing a nickname, Fred is not related to the 23-year-old Brazil midfielder who plays with France's Lyon.

Agence France-Presse

[Andy]

Victory quash Fred rumour
by: Jonathan Healy
Sportal

Melbourne Victory has moved quickly to dispel rumours that star striker Fred has left the club to sign with US Major League Soccer outfit DC United.

Despite the Washington Post reporting that Fred had signed a four-year-deal with the club, Melbourne Victory media manager Tony Ising confirmed that at this stage nothing was official.

"As far as the club is concerned there is no confirmation or anything from the club," Ising told Sportal.

"There are plenty of rumours floating about, one to America, one is a Japanese rumour, another is a European rumour, so it sound like his agent is shopping him around the place quite a bit."

The Brazillian-born player enjoyed a successful season with the Victory, scoring four goals and setting up strike partners Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp on many occasions.

The loss of Fred would make Victory's task of claiming back-to back titles even harder, but Ising said the club would try to hold on to the 27-year-old and insisted that nothing had been finalised.

"Our track record with signings for the last two-and-a-half years is that we won't comment until they are finalised, and I did notice that DC United had said that they are not going to comment either until it is all finalised, if it is ever finalised."