That’s the beauty of good footballers, they’re really good with the football.
At 22 years of age, Andreas Pereira might be six shy of Mourinho’s dream player – in terms of years and inches – but he could well prove to be like a new signing for Manchester United all the same.
He’s come through the youth system at the club, he’s spent four years as a senior player – two of those on loan – and, now, he looks like he could make a break onto the first team.
Last season, the Belgian was with Valencia where he started 12 La Liga games, came on in a further 11, and finished the campaign with a goal and three assists.
On Tuesday night, he played the full 90 minutes as Manchester United overcame Real Madrid 2-1 in the Pre-Season Mega Challenge Inter-Galactico Shield.
Goals from Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera did the damage for United who took a two-goal lead and staved off Madrid even after Benzema pulled one back.
Sanchez finished off a neat move for the opener but it was his flick back for the assist of Ander Herrera that really stole the show as the Chilean combined with Mata and Herrera to create a beautiful piece of work that would undo Madrid for a second time.
1-0 (Sanchez)
Alexis Sanchez's Goal vs Real Madrid 🔥 #MUFC https://t.co/pgzWqiMWwU
— Ammadutd (@Ammadutd) August 1, 2018
2-0 (Herrera)
https://twitter.com/TheManUtdWay/status/1024453840328962048
All good, all positive – honestly, Jose, this is a good thing – but there was cause for even more optimism when, with one composed bit of skill, some confidence and perfect execution, Andreas Pereira showed how adept he is to modern football by just waltzing his way out from a full Real Madrid press and doing it by spinning opposition heads.
White jerseys aggressively charge him down at the edge of the area and, rather than lump clear or panic in any way, Pereira sent them all for a Snickers and rolled the ball to another team mate in a better position.
United kept possession and one piece of brilliance created spare men to go and attack with.
Just hope this doesn’t get knocked out of him.
