'That's not what I wanted' - Alex Iwobi's teammate reveals why he left Man Utd

Former Manchester United star Andreas Pereira has candidly revealed that he deliberately avoided speaking with then-new manager Erik ten Hag to force through his departure from the club, a decision he now calls "the finest of my professional life."

The Brazilian midfielder, who has since thrived at Fulham alongside Super Eagles star Alex Iwobi, explained his calculated move was driven by a desire for consistent playing time after years of being a fringe player at Old Trafford.

His revelation came during an interview on the podcast Rio Ferdinand Present podcast.

Pereira's decision to leave came in 2022, just as Ten Hag was arriving at Manchester United.

The two had a prior connection from their time at PSV Eindhoven, where Ten Hag, then a youth coach, had tried to convince a 16-year-old Pereira to stay with the Dutch club.

"That's why I didn't want to speak to Erik," Pereira stated.

He continued, "I knew him and I knew that, at the time, it was always a conversation, like, 'Andreas, stay here. You're not going to play every game, maybe one game in every three, you'll be around the squad.' That's not what I wanted, I wanted to play."

The 29-year-old, who progressed through United’s academy after arriving in 2011, made 75 senior appearances.

However, his tenure was characterised by a series of loan spells at clubs like Granada, Valencia, Lazio, and Flamengo, which restricted his chances under different managers.

After a fruitful loan spell with Flamengo in Brazil, Pereira was resolute about securing a permanent departure.

The choice was not easy, with the appeal of staying at a club like Manchester United always a factor.

He reflected on his difficult decision, saying, "Leaving United, you're like, 'Am I really going to do this? Am I sure?' In the end, you're never 100 per cent sure, really. Sometimes you think stay and have another go. Other times, you have to leave."

Pereira's determination to play regularly, combined with a longing to reconnect with his Brazilian heritage, led him to seek a permanent move.

He admitted to feeling a lack of "love" from the club and wanted to play close to his family. This led to his initial loan to Flamengo, where he was told by some at United that his career in Europe was likely over.