Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has said that his season-long loan with Valencia will make him a better player once he returns to Old Trafford. The Brazil youth international joined Los Che prior to the Spanish transfer deadline back in September.
Pereira, 21, had not featured in any of the first three Premier League game of the campaign, and this urged him to pursue a temporary return to the Spanish La Liga, where he had decent success with Granada last season.
United boss Jose Mourinho expressed his ‘disappointed’ at watching Pereira make the move to Mestalla, but the versatile midfielder has insisted that the pair still maintain a ‘good relationship’.
In an interview with ESPN, Pereira admitted that the need for regular gametime played a significant role in his loan switch, but feels the experience will benefit him in the long-run when he returns to United.
“I wasn’t going to be a starting player at United this season. I felt that by coming here I would play more minutes. By playing I’ll get better, I’ll evolve. That is better than being on the bench where I get frustrated and it starts to work against me. Here, I’m playing, I’m happy and I’m getting better.
“People see that, United see that, and it will help me, Valencia and Manchester United. If I go back then I’ll be a better player. I’m under pressure here, but in a positive way. I play against big teams in big stadiums. We’re second in the league.”
Pereira has been a regular fixture for Valencia, who are just four points adrift of table-toppers Barcelona. The 21-year-old has made exactly half of his 10 league games from the starting spot, contributing one goal and three assists to Los Che’s cause.
The Belgium-born ace penned a one-year extension until 2019 prior to his loan switch, and he could yet have a key role to play for Manchester United with Marouane Fellaini yet to extend his contract beyond next summer.
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