I spent 10 years at Manchester United - but I felt a lack of affection from them

Former Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has accused the club of not showing enough faith in young players, including in himself.

Pereira spent 10 years at United after joining the club from PSV Eindhoven in 2012 at the age of 16. He left Old Trafford in July 2022, joining Premier League counterparts Fulham on a four-year contract.

Despite racking up 75 appearances during his time at United, the Brazilian failed to establish himself as a first-team regular, often restricted to the odd appearance here and there. The Covid-hit 2019/20 campaign was his most fruitful at United, in which he made 40 appearances across all competitions.

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It was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that awarded Pereira the most opportunities, with the midfielder making 56 appearances under the Norwegian's stewardship. However, more than two years on from his exit, Pereira has accused United of lacking trust in young players.

Speaking to Premier League Brasil, Pereira said: "I think that, in certain signings, the club could have trusted more in the youth players. In me, Angel (Gomes), (Scott) McTominay, (Jesse) Lingard, these players. They even play well, but then, at the first opportunity the club gets, they discard them."

Pereira, after spending the 2021/22 season out on loan back in his native Brazil, departed Old Trafford on a permanent basis ahead of the following season, moving to Fulham. He has made a total of 91 appearances for the Cottagers since, scoring nine goals.

Pereira debuted for United in 2014, coming off the bench at half-time in their infamous 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the second round of the League Cup. Manager Louis van Gaal had a lot of midfield options to consider and Pereira knew opportunities would be hard to come by.

"I arrived in the first team with Van Gaal," Pereira continued. "It was very difficult for me to play because, at the time, there were (in midfield) (Wayne) Rooney, (Juan) Mata, (Angel) Di Maria, Memphis (Depay) had just arrived... I couldn't play on the wing, or as a midfielder or as a defensive midfielder, because (Bastian) Schweinsteiger had just arrived too."

Reflecting on his time at United, Pereira added: "Definitely (there was a lack of affection from Manchester United). I spent a long time there, I arrived when I was 16 and left when I was 26. I really felt a bit of a lack of affection, of being able to play in my position and really show why I was at Manchester United.

"But in the end, I would have liked to have had this opportunity that I am having now (at Fulham), to show my football. And I am sure if I had had the same opportunity there (at United), it would have been different."