Pereira has got Premier ambition at Hawthorns
MATHEUS Pereira wants Premier League football in West Bromwich Albion colours next season.
The Brazilian has been a roaring success since his loan move to Albion from Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon this summer and already Baggies supporters are warming to the idea of retaining Pereira beyond the length of his agreed loan.
Indeed, Albion have already agreed a permanent fee with Sporting that they will meet depending on various appearance and promotion clauses.
They have also agreed personal terms with Pereira and the playmaker has been forthright in his stance as to what Albion should be looking to achieve.
“Our first objective is promotion,” he insisted. “I want to play in the Premier League and would love to do it with this club. I have a lot of ambitions and objectives but I like to approach them step by step.
“The objective is promotion. We want to see the whole club happy. I know this is what everyone feels in the dressing room.
“We want to see everyone smiling at the end of the season because that would be beautiful. The players, their families, the supporters, the staff... all excited that we have gained promotion.
“That would be a great feeling and that is our objective. If we are going to achieve this then everyone has to be working to the same aim, just like any business. It’s difficult to achieve these goals without this.
“In the middle of the journey, something might happen that makes it difficult. The most important thing then is to focus.
“You stay focused on what you’re trying to achieve. All of these things are what I’ve seen here.”
Pereira has hit the ground running, but is he prepared for the long winter nights in the Championship?
It will be a far cry from his upbringing in Belo Horizonte, certainly, but don’t think Pereira won’t fancy it because of a little cold.
As the 23-year-old stressed, he’s played in worse conditions in the last 12 months!
He continued: “When you play in the streets of Brazil and you’ve got a gang of kids trying to kick you off the ball, you learn how to look after yourself and keep the ball!
“The cold? I played in Germany last year and this should be a walk in the park compared to that.
“It seemed to be snowing every week but the Bundesliga was a fantastic experience. It’s very fast-paced and you play in a great stadium every week, always packed, great atmosphere.
“You play some of the best teams in Europe – Bayern Munich, Monchengladbach, Schalke, Borussia Dortmund.”
Meanwhile, Albion defender Ahmed Hegazi made his eagerlyawaited return to action on Monday night.
Hegazi played for international friendly
Botswana.
He completed 90 minutes and recorded a clean sheet as he helped his country to a 1-0 victory at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria.
The 28-year-old centre-back has not featured for the Baggies so far this season after undergoing ankle surgery. Egypt in at home an to