“Butt of the joke… and he’s missed” – Man United fans called out for treatment of ex-Red

Former Premier League defender Ashley Williams has criticised Manchester United fans for their treatment of Fred, who is now ‘missed’ at the club.

United have struggled in the middle of the park this season, with the likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen unable to recreate their form of last season.

New signings Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat have been unable to hit the ground running, which has left Erik ten Hag in a difficult position.

The United boss ended up selling Brazilian midfielder Fred in the summer to Fenerbahçe for a small fee, and Ashley Williams believes the decision was a mistake.

Whilst speaking about Casemiro’s drop in form this term for the Old Trafford outfit on Vibe with Five, Williams described Fred as the ‘Robin’ of the team and stated that the club are missing his energy in the midfield right now despite the criticism he handled when he was at United.

“My opinion on the matter is, as good as he (Casemiro) is or was or whatever, and I’m not taking it away from him, sometimes you need a Robin to the Batman,” he began.

“And he has gone, and you lot battered him forever, and he was like the butt of a lot of jokes in Fred.

“I just think that Fred is missed.”

Fred has played 14 games for the Turkish side, scored five goals and is yet to lose a game.

He has been unavailable for their last three league fixtures, of which they have dropped points in two of them.

The midfielder joined up with the United squad in Turkey last week before The Reds faced Galatasaray in the Champions League.