- Man Utd starlet Pereira is currently on loan at Valencia
- Youngster has been earning rave reviews from around Europe
- Balague isn’t quite as convinced, as he raises doubts over his impact
- READ MORE: Jose Mourinho slams Man Utd critics with brilliant response, but fears key exit
A quick scout around for analysis on Andreas Pereira would suggest that he’s having a great time at Valencia, but the Man Utd loanee hasn’t convinced Guillem Balague.
While Goal.com suggest he’s sending a message to Man Utd after being shipped out, Sky Sports have noted how he’s ‘flourishing’ with the La Liga outfit.
The 21-year-old’s statistics don’t necessarily back those suggestions up as he’s managed just one goal and a single assist in 11 appearances for Los Che, although it could be argued that he’s offering much more aside from that.
Not according to Balague, who doesn’t believe that Pereira has particularly stood out so far this season, in what is quickly becoming a very impressive campaign from Valencia as a whole as they continue to sit in second place ahead of a crucial clash with leaders Barcelona this weekend.
“Pereira is not key to Valencia. He still has a lot of room for improvement and he is actually a player who everybody expects more from,” he said in a Sky Sports Q&A.
“He is not at the level to go back to Manchester United, maybe that will change, but for now his place is taken up by Goncalo Guedes and Soler, who is not a natural winger but is playing very well, and Pereira has not managed to get to the level everybody expects from him.”
So who’s right? Time will tell if Pereira can fully convince everyone between now and the end of the season before he returns to Old Trafford after his loan spell ends.
Given his preferred position on the wing though, he’ll have his work cut out for him as the competition is fierce in Jose Mourinho’s squad, hence why he was shipped out in the first place.
With the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and others all battling for places, Balague won’t be the only one that needs convincing that Pereira is ready to put his name at the top of that list in the years to come.