‘I need to go’ – United Player didn’t speak with Ten Hag before deciding to leave

Manchester United under Erik ten Hag has certainly been the place of dreams for most of its players. Fixture congestion and limited squad depth aside, the roster is filled with names who appear to be happy to play football and play it well. This wasn’t the case a year ago. Thus, the Dutch gaffer clearly inspires confidence wherever he goes.

However, there may be more than meets the eye. In fact, a recent comment indicates that one former player did not even wish to speak to the gaffer before scripting his future away from Old Trafford.

Andreas Pereira has been a vital cog in Fulham’s unassailable ascension this campaign. While his FA Cup outing against United and the raw statistics alone may not paint the picture, the 27-year-old is one of the main reasons the London club could dream of plying its trade in Europe next campaign and not in the Championship.

However, the departure from United to Fulham was not a neat one if Pereira’s comments are to be heard.

The Brazilian midfielder unequivocally stated the following about his departure (via ESPN): “I didn’t speak with Ten Hag. 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.”

This is certainly interesting as it indicates that the Dutchman could have realistically convinced the youth academy graduate to have stuck on with the Red Devils.

However, the lack of playing time and the competitive state of starting spots would have made it tough for a player who needs to feel like he is in his prime.

As such, Pereira’s following assertion speaks for itself: “In my head I was thinking ‘I need to go, I need to feel confident and play’ and that’s what I did.”