Key Stats:
Name: Andreas Pereira
Date of Birth (Age): 1 January 1996 (age 24)
Signed: 1 January 2012
Appearances: 45
Appearances This Season: 37
Goals: 2
Assists: 3
Pass success percentage: 78.9
Contract till: 30/06/2023
Analysis:
Andreas Pereira’s majority of appearances for Manchester United came last season as he featured in 37 games across all competitions out of his 45 appearances in total for the club. He got these many opportunities mainly due to the lack of reinforcements in the midfield during the summer transfer window and the glimpses of promises he showed during the back end of the season before.
Andreas was played initially on the right-wing by Solskjaer and on the opening day of the Premier League season, he grabbed an assist for Manchester United’s second goal of the game against Chelsea. At the beginning of the season, he looked as if he was going to be a regular in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United side as he put up few decent performances playing on the right-wing and also as a number 10.
However, as the season went on the Brazilian couldn’t keep up with the level of expectations from the manager and supporters. His season started to curtail due to his lacklustre performances and his inability to create chances when played in the midfield. Manchester United often struggled to break down teams that sit deep this season and Pereira couldn’t make an impression playing in one of the key areas of the pitch.
He was often rotated with Jesse Lingard this season but neither could put up good performances and gain the manager’s trust. Since Bruno Fernandes’s arrival in January, Pereira became accustomed to a bench role as previously anticipated. He was left out of the matchday squad at times and the duo of Lingard and Pereira saw themselves rotated with each other for a place on the bench. His game time became thin as he failed to earn back the manager’s trust.
Overall – 5.5/10
Ambitions for next season:
Pereira can only see himself as a squad player for next season if he is to stay at the club. The impact that Bruno Fernandes has had since his arrival makes him a vital component in the United starting eleven. This has led to reports emerging recently that the Brazilian is looking for a move out of the club to get more playing time. This could hold true as he has hardly featured in games since January and was also omitted from the matchday squad several times.
At 24, he would surely want assured minutes in the starting eleven to grow into his career and potentially earn a call up for the Brazilian national team. It remains to be seen if he is content of a squad role for next season and whether he would be willing to fight for his place.
A loan move would also be a good option for both parties since he can get more minutes of regular first-team football. Since he has shown flashes and glimpses of his capabilities this season, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea for Solskjaer to keep him as a squad player. Additionally, his future also depends on the transfer activity of the club this summer. If there are more additions to those areas of the pitch, a transfer could well be on the cards for the Belgium-born Brazil international.
