Fred reveals Palmeiras interest before Atlético-MG move, says Leila Pereira wanted to sign him | OneFootball

Fred says he turned down Palmeiras to rejoin Atlético-MG, despite Leila Pereira’s interest, opting for a return that he describes as clear and direct.

"There were other clubs. My agent is from São Paulo and a Palmeiras supporter. He said, 'Let's go to Palmeiras, Leila wants to sign you.' I said no. I want to go back to Galo, otherwise I would have stayed in Türkiye," he told Charla Podcast.

From the moment his name surfaced, he and Atlético were aligned on a return, but Fenerbahçe in Türkiye held his rights. Atlético paid €2 million for the 33-year-old’s release, with a further €500,000 in performance-related add-ons. He had been abroad since 2013, also playing for Shakhtar and Manchester United.

"Whether I liked it or not, I had a market in Qatar, I could have gone to earn more money. I had two more years on my Fenerbahçe contract. But I said, 'It is my moment to return to Galo, I need to fulfil this dream of playing at home' ."

Fred has moved with his wife and children to Lagoa Santa. He has one goal and three assists in eight games for Atlético. His contract runs until the end of 2029.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”