Manchester United loanee Andreas Pereira continues to live a complicated situation at Flamengo.
In the Rio de Janeiro derby against Vasco da Gama on Sunday, the midfielder’s poor performance was crowned with a play in which he lost possession and resulted in an equaliser for the away side. Then he was soon subbed off and booed again.
Flamengo fans had little patience with Pereira since a similar, but much more serious, mistake happened in the Copa Libertadores final and cost them the title.
Now many people believe he needs help at the club.
“Andreas Pereira has no psychological strength to withstand this pressure from Flamengo fans. He was clearly shaken by the boos, which were deserved, by the way,” said journalist Venê Casagrande.
Flamengo and Manchester United reportedly have an agreement to make Pereira’s move permanent, as the clubs found a deal worth around €10m. Many Brazilian outlets now wonder if the Rio de Janeiro club will honour that.
Even though O Globo says there are ‘no movements’ from the red and black club to cancel the deal so far, ESPN Brasil points out that part of the board has been against this deal. Since president Rodolfo Landim is used to listening to his people before taking those decisions, then it’s still a mystery whether he could give up on the agreement or not.
Speaking to UOL, journalist Renato Mauricio Prado claimed Flamengo would make a mistake by carrying on with the purchase.
“It doesn’t make any sense to buy Andreas now. In the middle of the year it might make sense depending on how he reacts, and he’s reacting badly. Since the Libertadores final, Andreas is another player from the one that excited when he arrived, today he’s a six-grade player, he doesn’t play the football he used to play anymore, he’s lost, his head went into space, he doesn’t play well and he still makes mistakes like in Vasco’s goal.
“If the decision were made today, it would be not to sign him, he’s clearly out of balance. Flamengo’s biggest mistake was timing, it was an absolute lack of sensitivity on the part of the board, even more an expensive player, this put a greater weight on Andreas’ back, who now finds himself obliged to play a lot to convince the fans that he is worth that money.
“Flamengo had to provide psychological support to the player, but we know that sensitivity is not one of the main characteristics of the Flamengo board.”
