Manchester United have been handed a setback ahead of their return to Premier League action this weekend, although it could allow manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to experiment over the coming weeks with most fans questioning the dynamic of the team’s midfield.
Fred is set to miss the next two matches after the Brazilian football federation triggered Fifa rules.
There is said to be a ‘five-day ban’ on the Premier League sides who refused to release players for international duty this month.
The Brazilian FA are looking to punish sides who refused to let their players travel to red-list countries over the international break, which seems barbaric to say the least, by triggering a clause in Fifa rules which prevents players being selected from the 10th to 14th of September.
According to the Manchester Evening News, under current Fifa legislation Brazil can demand players who had been selected for international duty are ineligible to play in matches for five days after the end of the International break — as a form of punishment for clubs not releasing them.
One would think United were doing the right thing – but we’re not alone as Liverpool are set to lose a series of star players for their upcoming clash against Leeds United, as per The Sun.
This means Fred misses United’s match against Newcastle this weekend end the Champions League opener away at Young Boys the following Tuesday.
It should see the manager try something new in midfield — whether Scott McTominay is back in time to act an an anchor in a 4-3-3 formation, or Donny van de Beek pulls up trees somehow…
Thankfully, Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani is not expected to be affected by the ruling.
