“I wanted to play” ex-Manchester United star explains why he snubbed talks with Erik ten Hag before leaving

Former Manchester United star Andreas Pereira has shed light on his departure and how he resisted talks with Erik ten Hag.

Pereira, 28, left Old Trafford in July 2022 when he joined fellow Premier League club Fulham in a £10 million deal. The Brazilian midfielder struggled for game time during his United career.

The Cottagers' playmaker suggested that his lack of first-team opportunities led to his exit. He explained why he didn't want to discuss the situation with Ten Hag as he felt the Dutchman wouldn't be able to promise him regular minutes (via centredevils):

"I didn’t want to speak to Erik because I knew him and I knew that, at the time, it was always a conversation, like, ‘Andreas, stay here. You’re not going to play every game, maybe one game in every three, you’ll be around the squad’. That’s not what I wanted, I wanted to play."

Pereira made 75 appearances across competitions during his 11-year spell at Manchester United. He posted four goals and five assists and failed to shine under several managers including Louis van Gaal and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

However, Pereira has been a massive hit with Fulham where he's become somewhat of a protagonist. He's registered eight goals and 15 assists in 78 games for Marco Silva's side.

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Ten Hag spoke glowingly about Andreas Pereira ahead of his first game against Manchester United

Erik ten Hag was pleased for Andreas Pereira.

Pereira returned to Old Trafford as an opponent in March 2023 when nine-man Fulham lost 3-1 to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarterfinals. The Brazilian came up against Ten Hag whom he knows well.

Ten Hag worked with Pereira at Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven. The Red Devils boss praised the three-cap Brazil international and was happy to see him impress at Fulham (via the club's official website):

''Andreas Pereira is a really good player. I [have] known him already a long time, I had him in the youth team at PSV, before he transferred to Manchester United. I am really happy for him and that he is progressing that well. I think it was the right step for him as I think he has to play on a regular basis.''

Pereira's Fulham crashed out of the FA Cup last season against his former club who went on to lose in the final. But, he won the competition during his time at Old Trafford in 2016, his only major trophy.