VIENNA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Manchester United-bound midfielder Fred has been ruled out of Brazil's pre-World Cup friendly against Austria on Sunday because of an ankle injury.
The 25-year-old missed Brazil's final training session before the match at Vienna's Ernst Happel stadium and instead underwent physiotherapy at the team hotel on Saturday.
Brazil officials said Fred would likely be available for the team's opening World Cup match against Switzerland in the southwestern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on June 17
National team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Fred suffered "ankle trauma" after collapsing under a sliding tackle from teammate Casemiro during training on Thursday.
The incident came just two days after Manchester United announced they had reached a deal to sign Fred from Ukraine's Shakhtar Donestsk.
According to media reports, the Premier League club paid 55 million euros to secure the Brazilian on a five-year deal.
