Andreas Pereira hits out at Louis van Gaal and accuses Man Utd boss of breaking his word

Andreas Pereira has accused Louis van Gaal of failing to fulfill his promise to play him in the Manchester United first team after refusing to allow the attacking midfielder to leave on loan in January.

Pereira did not start a Premier League game all season for United and was angered by Van Gaal's unwillingness to let him go out on loan, only for the player to then remain on the periphery of the first team.

The 20-year-old played a total of just 43 minutes following the close of the winter transfer window and says he is now waiting for Van Gaal to honour their agreement.

"I wanted to be loaned out in January in order to play more and to keep developing myself, but Van Gaal told me that he did not want me to be loaned out," Pereira said.

"He told me to stay in Manchester because he would use me and that I would play.

"I told him that was fine, and that if I could stay and play then I would. He did not let me leave. I took the decision and now I’m training, doing my job and waiting for him to fulfil his word.”

Pereira and Adnan Januzaj, who had a miserable loan spell at Borussia Dortmund cut short after being warned by Van Gaal that he should have joined a club where he was more likely to be guaranteed playing time, have both been relative outcasts under the Dutchman in recent months. Januzaj has played a total of only 17 minutes since returning from Germany.

United were forced to rebuff interest in both players to tie them to long-term contracts - Januzaj signed a five-year deal in October 2013, Pereira a three-year contract with the option of another 12 months at the end of last season - but their futures seem uncertain after a testing past year.