Andreas Pereira stood on the half way line under the Saturday night lights at Camp Nou. A crowd of 82,914, the biggest he’s ever played in front of watched as he lined up next to Lionel Messi before kick-off.
The Manchester United youngster, 20, is on loan at Primera Liga side Granada for the season. They’re winless and bottom of the table. A slaughter was anticipated at Camp Nou on Saturday, but Granada defended well and were the only team to keep Barça goalless in the first half at home so far this season. A goal after the break from Rafinha condemned the Andalusians to another defeat, but Pereira performed well. He performed a Cruyff-like turn to get past Denis Suarez in the first half.
For his career to progress, Pereira needed minutes of competitive football. He made his United debut in the infamous 4-0 defeat at MK Dons two years ago and along with James Wilson and Adnan Januzaj, is the only outfield player from that night still attached to the club. He’s featured in 13 United games but didn’t make Jose Mourinho's squad for United’s first three games of the season before he moved to Andalusia.
“I came to Spain to play and get more time on the pitch,” he told the M.E.N. after Saturday’s game.
“I’m enjoying it. Granada is a beautiful city and I’ve visited the Alhambra Palace. The food is good, I like the paella. It’s good to play around Spain too. Playing in the Camp Nou was a great experience.”
Spanish club sides are the best in the world. They’re the pre-eminent force in European football and playing against the best – and trying a different type of football – isn't doing Pereira any harm.
“The football is more physical in England,” he explains. “Here, they play a bit slower and it’s more technical so it’s different and difficult to play here too. The training here is hard, with more emphasis on the tactical and skills side than the physical side.”
The versatile Pereira, who prefers to play as an attacking midfielder but is being used as a winger by Granada, keeps in touch with several of his United team mates.
“I speak to Paul Pogba and a lot of the other players,” he says. “I ask how they’re doing, wish them luck. My plan is to get more experience here, to get into that rhythm of playing every week at a high level, then go back stronger to United, with a better football knowledge. With each game I feel that I’m getting better and better. I think I have a good future at United and the people at the club give me confidence that that is the case too.”
Manager Mourinho has also been in contact.
“He sent me a message a couple of weeks ago asking how everything was going,” explains Pereira. “You appreciate that when you’re away on loan.”
Pereira also follows United closely.
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“I watch every game on TV,” he explains. “I watched the Burnley game. The team are doing quite well. It’s difficult when you have a lot of new players and a new manager, but I think things will fall into place and the team will getting better as they get to know each other more and go further into the season.”
While he’s playing more club football, he’s also represented Belgium and Brazil, the first from under 15 to under 18, the second from under 20 to under 23 level. Like Rafinha who scored against him on Saturday, the Brazilian was a son of a footballer born in Europe but chose to play for Brazil.
“The next step is difficult – it’s the full Brazil team, but I think if I do well here and do well back at United then that’s realistic,” he says.
For now, he’s concentrating on helping Granada. A first win would be a start.
“We’ve been unlucky in some games, but we also have a lot of new players and a new manager so we have to adapt. It’s difficult, but as we showed against Barcelona, we have great potential.”
As does Andreas Pereira.