Pereira is exception as loan deals fail to pay off
IT is easy to see why Jose Mourinho refused to consider loan moves for senior squad members in January after what happened to four Manchester United players who were farmed out in the summer.
Guillermo Varela managed 10 Eintracht Frankfurt appearances before he contracted an infection from a tattoo and was suspended by the club. Cameron BorthwickJackson, left in the wilderness by Wolves, last played a professional game in November. James Wilson suffered a serious knee injury at Derby and Adnan Januzaj, relegated with Sunderland, was rated 0/10 by supporters.
Goalkeepers Joel Pereira, Dean Henderson and Sam Johnstone fared more favourably but the only outfield exception was Pereira’s namesake Andreas.
Like Januzaj, Pereira was aboard a sinking ship at Granada. The club appointed three coaches and the latest, Tony Adams, was heckled by Real playmaker Isco for resembling a waiter. Despite the chaos which engulfed the club, Pereira managed to enjoy a successful campaign on loan. Predominantly positioned on the left wing, he managed five goals and three assists in La Liga and the Spain-based journalist David Cartlidge opined the Brazilian had Atletico Madrid’s Spain international right-back Juanfran ‘at his mercy’ in a narrow 1-0 defeat.
“He is learning to dig in, show some character and responsibility,” Cartlidge told M.E.N. Sport. “While putting his own individual assets to the side a little. He has to think of the team. He never hides in games.”
Pereira kept in regular contact with United assistant manager Rui Faria throughout his time in southern Spain and was in attendance for United’s last league game of the campaign against Crystal Palace. He is expected to be included in Mourinho’s senior squad next term and is possibly returning at the ideal time. Anthony Martial failed to establish himself as United’s first-choice left winger. Ashley Young, 32 next month and out of contract next year, could face uncertainty and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s positioning on the left flank is unlikely to be permanent when Ivan Perisic predominantly played there last year for Internazionale. Pereira should not be disenchanted if Perisic, likely bought to strengthen United’s left side, does arrive. Further back United’s midfield is already heavily reliant on the active Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba and could be in need of invigorating. Prospective signing Nemanja Matic is a solid if cumbersome option to shield the back four and Michael Carrick celebrates his 36th birthday next month. David Cartlidge