Manchester United player who ‘never spoke’ to Erik ten Hag claims leaving club was best decision of his life

Most players express a tinge of regret when they leave a club of Manchester United‘s stature – but Andreas Pereira has bucked that trend emphatically.

The Brazilian international, who was called up to his country’s recent Copa America squad this summer, came through the youth team ranks at United.

He was handed his first team debut by Louis Van Gaal in 2014, before spending spells away from Old Trafford on loan in Spain, first at Granada and then Valencia in successive seasons.

Pereira began to feature more at United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before heading out on loan to Italian side Lazio in 2020 and then to Brazilian outfit Flamengo.

Pereira was ultimately a bit-part squad player at United, scoring four goals in 75 games across four seasons he featured at Old Trafford, but spent the bulk of his time out on loan elsewhere.

United opted to sell Pereira to Fulham in the summer of 2022 for a reported £10 million plus add-ons.

The now-28-year-old has flourished under Marco Silva at the Cottagers, scoring eight goals in 82 games and becoming a regular starter in the Premier League for the Craven Cottage outfit.

The summer of 2022 saw a change in the dugout at Old Trafford, after Erik ten Hag arrived from Ajax following the departure of interim manager Ralf Rangnick.

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Pereira has now reflected on his decision to leave United two years on from making that call – and he has expressed no regrets whatsoever in swapping Old Trafford for Craven Cottage.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Pereira said: “I think it was the best decision I made in my life.

“To come to live and play here, to enjoy my football, to get back into the national team with great players, to enjoy my football in the Premier League, leaving is the best decision I made.

“The time I was there, I really enjoyed being at a fantastic club. But I don’t regret leaving.”

Speaking in a separate interview with ESPN in March 2023, Pereira even revealed that he did not speak with the arriving Ten Hag when he left United around the same time.

He said: “I didn’t speak with Ten Hag. I know him because I worked with him at PSV but I was determined in my head and maybe if I spoke with the manager again I would stay.

“In my head I was thinking ‘I need to go, I need to feel confident and play’ and that’s what I did.”