Union's Fred looks forward to starting season

Union midfielder Fred has been asked a lot this week about playing his former team, D.C. United, in Saturday's 6 p.m. inaugural home game at Lincoln Financial Field.

Fred has insisted that there won't be much sentimentality. He's simply happy to be back on the field.

"I don't feel it is any different because for me, it's still soccer," he said.

In his final game for United last season, Fred received a red card and thus had to sit out one game. That means he missed the first game in Union history, a 2-0 loss away to Seattle Sounders FC on March 25.

The Union can surely use Fred's creativity in the midfield as the offense is searching for answers. Besides being shut out in Seattle, the Union didn't score a goal in their final two preseason games.

"He gives us a different dimension," Union team manager Peter Nowak said. "He is very comfortable coming back, getting the ball and then servicing it forward."

The 30-year-old Fred played the last three seasons for United. Last year, he appeared in 23 games, making 17 starts and totaled two goals and four assists.

In January, the Brazilian was acquired along with the seventh overall pick in the 2010 SuperDraft and allocation money. In exchange, United received the Union's No. 1 allocation ranking that was used to sign goalkeeper Troy Perkins.

Team president Tom Veit said on Thursday that more than 25,000 tickets have been sold for Saturday's game.

"Our goal has been 30,000, and we are confident we can reach that," Veit said.

The Union announced on Thursday that Vice President Biden will participate in the first kick ceremonies prior to Saturday's home opener, joined by former U.S. National Team star Walter Bahr.

Help on defense? The Union remain close to signing defender Cristian Arrieta, but it still wasn't official by the end of the business day on Thursday. If signed, Arrieta could see action in Saturday's game.

Roster increases. MLS has added two additional roster slots per club for Home Grown Players, identified and developed by the local club. This increases the total from 24 to 26.

MLS teams may have 18 to 20 players on the senior roster, with no player making less than $40,000 and all counting against the salary budget of $2,550,000.

Teams may have up to six players that do not count against the salary budget. Of these six slots, two are reserved for Home Grown Players, who will earn a minimum of $31,250 this year.