Pep Guardiola sought out Fred and consoled the Manchester United midfielder in the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium after he was subjected to apparent racist abuse that led to the arrest of a 41-year-old man and the launch of an FA investigation.

Fred was pelted with cigarette lighters and taunted by a number of Manchester City fans as he prepared to take a corner in the second half of United’s 2-1 win. One of those fans, 41-year-old Anthony Burke, appeared to make a monkey gesture towards the 26-year-old Brazil international. Burke was arrested on suspicion of committing a racially aggravated public order offence but claimed in a social media post that the gesture had been misinterpreted and he had been trying to put his hands