Ex-Man Utd player ‘didn’t speak with Ten Hag’ before summer transfer – ‘determined’ to avoid U-turn

Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira has admitted that he “didn’t speak with Erik ten Hag” before he left Man Utd during last summer’s transfer window.

The Brazil international joined from Dutch side PSV in 2011. He made his senior debut for the Premier League side during the 2014/15 campaign.

Pereira ended up playing 75 times for the Red Devils with most of his appearances coming between 2018 and 2020.

After falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford, the midfielder signed for newly-promoted Fulham last summer for £10m plus add-ons.

Fulham have overachieved this season as they are in the top half of the Premier League. Pereira has been one of their better performers and he has grabbed two goals and six assists in the league.

Several United players were afforded a fresh start last summer following the arrival of Ten Hag. But Periera did not speak with the head coach before joining Fulham as he was “determined” to move on.

“I didn’t speak with Ten Hag,” Pereira told ESPN. “I know him because I worked with him at PSV but I was determined in my head and maybe if I spoke with the manager again I would stay. In my head I was thinking ‘I need to go, I need to feel confident and play’ and that’s what I did.

“At United, I had a lot of memories; good memories, bad memories. It’s been 10 years at the club. I arrived when I was 16 so, you know, a young boy. It was an amazing ride but I got to the stage where I thought maybe it was best not to stay.

“I wanted to feel more loved and I wanted to play every game. What Fulham offered me and what [manager] Marco [Silva] offered me, it was the perfect opportunity.”

Pereira went on to insist that his time at Fulham has been “great so far”.

“I’m feeling at home here and it’s been great so far,” Pereira added. “When I first came here they told me that every year in the Premier League they would go down.

“The main objective was to stay in the Premier League but I spoke with the manager [Marco Silva] and he told me what he wanted to achieve and the way he wanted to play.

“He was very ambitious and I really liked that. When we were five games into the season we realised we could do something great with the team and it’s been amazing. He’s very, very strong and he’s a great guy. I’ve been enjoying my football so it’s been amazing.”