Manchester United are reportedly set to lose out on a considerable transfer fee with Andreas Pereira ’s move away from the club seemingly collapsed.
The Brazilian playmaker spent last season on-loan back in his homeland with Flamengo. They had the option to make the deal permanent for a reported fee of just over £9m. However, the Serie A club elected not to activate that option having previously been keen to extend the loan - a deal that was rejected by United, according to reports in Brazil.
The 26-year-old will now return to Old Trafford ahead of Erik ten Hag ’s first season in charge, with his future certainly up in the air. He still has two years left on his current Red Devils’ deal but appears unlikely to figure in the Dutchman’s plans.
Pereira has not appeared for the club since a Europa League victory against LASK back in August 2020. Despite the prospect of a return to Flamengo now fleeting, the club’s manager Dorival Junior has expressed his desire for the midfielder to be retained.
“It’s just an opinion. I hope he stays,” he said to Brazilian outlet Lance. “Players of this level, players with this potential, are few in Brazil. I have no doubt that this boy can still grow a lot, he can evolve a lot. How will it happen? I don’t know, but it would be really nice if we could hold onto this kid because he has a lot of qualities.”
“He is a player that draws attention in any way. He has growth potential, players of that level are scarce at the moment within this country.”
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Since joining Flamengo, Pereira managed to accumulate 49 appearances for the Brazilian side, scoring seven goals. In his time with the Red Devils, he has also had loan spells with Granada, Lazio and Valencia, whilst also managing to appear on 75 occasions for the Old Trafford outlet.
Like his manager, Pereira has also expressed his desire to stay with Flamengo for the foreseeable future. Speaking earlier this season with ESPN, he said: "My desire has always been to stay here at Flamengo, and now we are going to do everything.
"We are going to talk to President Landim and Marcos Braz to make this possible. Of course, I have a feeling that I owe the fans a title. As I told them, you can count on me, I'll do my best so that next year we can come out with those titles there.”
Whilst his future is still up in the air, Man United have already conducted a fair bit of business this summer. The likes of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata have already left Old Trafford, with others potentially expected to follow.
