Andreas Pereira making the decision to leave Manchester United and join Valencia on loan this season is not something that Manager Jose Mourinho agreed with. The 21-year-old midfielder completed the transaction late last Friday night, in the final hours of the La Liga transfer window and well after the Premier League transfer window had already closed.
“It was a personal decision that I don’t agree with, a decision I don’t think honestly is the best decision for him, a decision that disappoints me,” Mourinho said at his weekly news conference today (video available at this link).
“He has the potential to be fighting for a position, opportunities and to be a Manchester United player. His decision can be considered a young player who wants to play every weekend but also a young player that is not ready to fight for something difficult and it’s difficult to play in Manchester United’s midfield.”
Pereira spent last season on loan at Granada, but he is signed to a long term deal that keeps him at United until 2019. Mourinho says the door is open to bringing Pereira back in the January transfer window.
“You have to be ready to fight for the position and I am disappointed he left, but was his decision, I opened the door, he has a long-term contract, we have the option to bring him back on Jan. 1, so is not a drama but is a decision which disappoints me a little bit.”
The Belgian signed with United in November 2011 from PSV Eindhoven. Andreas Pereira has made 13 first team appearances for United (five in league play, three in Europe, two in national cup and three in league cup), scoring one goal.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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