A couple of days ago Sport Witness’ Lucas Sposito was able to confirm claims that Joel Pereira would be on his way back to Manchester United. There had been rumours in the Portuguese media of a possible switch to Benfica, which we were earlier able to dismiss, and then the Manchester United claims.
With a Manchester United exit on the cards for Sam Johnstone, Pereira will be returning to Old Trafford to be third choice goalkeeper behind David De Gea and Sergio Romero. The switch has been a request of manager Jose Mourinho.
The 20 year old goalkeeper has been on loan this season at Belenenses and played 10 games for the club after pushing his way to be first choice. He won’t play another match for the club, and all the Portuguese press are in unison that Pereira will arrive at Manchester United in the next few days.
A Bola newspaper have an image of Pereira having a selfie with a fan last night, as he said goodbyes to Belenenses supporters.
The loan in Portugal seems to have been beneficial for the Manchester United goalkeeper and he’ll return having added some more experience to his CV.
In March of last year Pereira made clear his desire to actually play for Manchester United one day: “That’s my big goal since I came to Manchester in 2012. Today, I’m working with two great goalkeepers full of experience.
“De Gea is one of the world’s best, Romero was in the final of the last World Cup. I’m training with the best, and that’s how you learn more. I feel increasingly ready, always closer to the objective, and I know that, step by step, I’ll get there.”
