With players of the talent of Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and now Memphis Depay at the club it is hard to see where Andreas Pereira would fit in at Manchester United.
A club who’s spending has only begun this summer, or at least that's what many fans hope. But with those fans always clamouring for player's to rise through the youth ranks, Pereira could well be one of them.
THE SEASON AHEAD FOR PEREIRA
The little Brazilian has had a long yet very successful campaign, in particular on an individual level for both club and country. This has included high praise including from teammate Marouane Fellaini who said “Andreas is a big talent. Many believe that the club did everything to sign him up to a contract because a lot of teams wanted him. He has to continue like that, to work hard and to keep going and try to win his place.”
The 19 year old played a massive role in helping the Red Devils win the under 21 league title. Playing a central role in terms of position and involvement, the playmaker also made his debut this season in the disappointing 4-0 defeat to the MK Dons. He then went on to make his Premier League debut at Old Trafford against top four rivals Tottenham.
Internationally, he helped Brazil reach the FIFA Under 20 World Cup final. Despite scoring a wonderful individual goal in the final against Serbian teammate Vanja Milinkovic, Brazil lost 2-1 in the final.
All of this has got Manchester United fans salivating like a dog waiting for his bone. It is an opportunity that the player himself is also looking forward too. He said this after signing a new contract this season. “I am pleased to have signed my new contract, I would like to thank the manager for giving me the opportunity to join the first-team squad. To play at Old Trafford in front of so many fans was a dream come true.”
Pereira's style of play
He is a very versatile play in terms of what position he can play. For the United under 21 side he was played primarily centrally, whilst for Brazil he came in a lot from the left.
While playing centrally he often drifts, like a ghost, out to both wings making him very difficult to mark. In this drifting he often drops deep giving him the opportunity to play killer passes often exploiting the space between centre and full back.
When looking at young players you can’t help but compare them to already established players. Dropping deep, he plays the offensive side of Michael Carrick’s game to great effect. He spreads the ball to either side of the pitch with ease and is willing to drop a few yards back to create the space to receive the ball.
What next?
Whatever happens next season for the Brazilian, it is clear that he is a very talented footballer who would give the team a different type of threat.
Unique threats can change a game as teams have to make special allowances to deal with it. Fellaini is a great example of that, as Chelsea had to put Kurt Zouma in midfield to deal with the Belgian.
With so many young players in the squad such as Luke Shaw, Paddy Mc Nair and James Wilson, the boy will not look out of place in senior football.
Whether that is at the Theatre of Dreams or elsewhere on loan is another question. None the less he is ready to make an impact in the Premier League and play his part in one of the greatest footballing stories ever told.
