Brazil coach Tite says new Manchester United signing Fred did not feature for Brazil at any stage of their World Cup campaign because he was not fully fit.

Tite has now explained it was because Fred failed to fully recover from an ankle injury he picked up before the tournament.

"Fred had a problem with his injury and failed to make a full recovery," Tite said. "In general and physical terms, the team flew. It was not the physical aspect that was decisive in defeat."

The 25-year-old limped out of a training session with Brazil in the weeks building up to the tournament following a challenge by Real Madrid's Casemiro during a practice match.