The 27-year-old Brazilian play-maker admitted to the newspaper: "The first day, I told my wife that we have to go back to Brazil."

Despite Fred's poor first impression of Bleak City when he arrived at the Victorian club in the 2006 off-season, he went on to be a firm fans' favourite.

Fred left the boom A-League franchise shortly after the club clinched the double last February and signed a contract worth around $300,000 at MLS club DC United. There, he reportedly became the third highest paid player at the club.

However, according to the same report, Fred struggled at the club in the first two months with his role as a wide midfielder.

"In the beginning, I think it was hard for him, and you could see he wasn't happy there," star forward Jaime Moreno told the Post.

"But he has gotten used to it and he knows his role. And, when you watch him now, you know he is having fun."

Fred, the 27-year-old former Belo Horizonte midfielder, scored in DC's 3-3 draw with Dallas last weekend.