Football star Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos has named Llandudno as one of his favourite places to visit in the UK.

The Manchester United midfielder, more commonly known as Fred, grew up in Belo Horizonte in Brazil, but moved to the UK in 2018 upon signing for the Red Devils.

In a recent interview with The Times, Fred said the coastal town of Llandudno was one of his, and his family's, favourite places to visit when he was not tearing it up on the football pitch.

He said: “Llandudno is beautiful. I like to be on the coast. It’s a nice place to go and it’s only an hour from my house.

“My family likes to go there and look at the view.”

North Wales Pioneer: Manchester United and Brazil footballer Fred said Llandudno was a beautiful place to visit. Credit: Patrick Glover/NewsquestManchester United and Brazil footballer Fred said Llandudno was a beautiful place to visit. Credit: Patrick Glover/Newsquest (Image: Patrick Glover)

Fred and his family - wife, Monique Salum and son, Benjamin - have taken a liking to traveling and visiting different parts of the UK which he said helps take his mind off football. 

He said: “Nowadays, you have all the information you need in your hand.

“I just search for a good place to go, I get in my car and I go there with my family.

“I like to go to the Lake District. I love it there. We’ve been to Scotland, to Edinburgh, and we’ve been to London.”

“It’s good to have an off switch. Then, you are not just working. It’s good to change the mind a little bit.”

Fred, 29, has played 186 games for Manchester United since joining the club, scoring 12 goals. 

He has also made 32 appearances for Brazil on the international stage.

He was a part of the Brazil World Cup squad that made it to the quarter-finals of the 2022 event in Qatar, where they lost to Croatia on penalties.