'I moved to Fulham from Man Utd and it was the best decision I made because of Red Devils boss'

Determined to leave Manchester United on his own terms, Andreas Pereira actively avoided speaking with incoming manager Erik ten Hag to ensure nothing derailed his exit. The Brazilian midfielder departed the Red Devils in 2022 to join Fulham in a £10million deal to end his 11-year association with the club.

His two former clubs meet at Craven Cottage today (Sunday, September 20) and Pereira knew from their shared history at PSV Eindhoven how persuasive Ten Hag could be . After making 75 appearances for United alongside loan spells at Granada, Valencia, Lazio, and current side Flamengo, the 30-year-old knew he needed a clean break rather than another fight for first-team minutes at Old Trafford.

"I didn't speak with Ten Hag," Pereira told ESPN during his first season at Fulham. "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 enjoyed his most successful spell in west London, netting 10 goals across 119 appearances for the Cottagers.

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He confessed that departing Manchester was the finest decision he'd ever taken and held no remorse about leaving the club. "I think it was the best decision I made in my life," Pereira told the Evening Standard in 2024.

"To come to live and play here, to enjoy my football, to get back into the national team with great players, to enjoy my football in the Premier League , leaving is the best decision I made. The time I was there, I really enjoyed being at a fantastic club. But I don't regret leaving.

"We [the players in my situation] have this desire to show it was wrong that we didn't play. With everyone's help around me [at Fulham], I achieved a great season. [ Marco Silva ] is responsible for me coming to Fulham. I will always be grateful for everything he has done for me."

Sunday's clash between the two sides follows United's stunning Carabao Cup elimination on Wednesday. United surrendered a 2-0 lead at home to Brighton , who fought back to triumph 3-2 and advance to the fourth round.

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