Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has spent several years outside of the club’s first team picture. The Brazilian, who came through the club’s academy, scored his first goal under Louis van Gaal’s second season, and made several first team appearances during the Dutchman’s ill-fated final campaign, but since Jose Mourinho took charge in 2016, Pereira has spent two years away from Old Trafford on loan. What followed was a stand-out season during Granada’s relegation in 2016/17 followed by a mixed campaign for Valencia the following year, and many fans had expected Pereira to make a permanent move from United this summer in search of first-team football.
But Pereira has spoken out about a conversation conducted with United manager Jose Mourinho ahead of the upcoming tour of the United States.
“I told him that I felt ready to compete,” he said to Belgium newspaper Het Belang van Limburg in quotes carried by The Mirror. “He was happy to hear that and said I would get my chance. Now we will see how it goes in pre-season.
“Breaking through at Manchester United is and remains the big dream. After two good seasons in Spain, I know that I can always go there. Valencia wanted to keep me, but at the moment my goals are in England.”I want to make it at Manchester United. At Valencia I have proven that I can participate at the highest level. That’s what I hope to show in Manchester now.”
It’s exciting to hear Pereira still retain a desire to play for Manchester United, given how long he’s been trying to break into Mourinho’s plans. Given that the Brazilian could arguably have decided against sticking around Old Trafford for another season, a permanent transfer would have surprised no one, but with so many of United’s midfielders absent from the upcoming pre-season tour, this could well be Pereira’s chance to impress his manager. Here’s hoping.
