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Andreas Pereira vows to fight for his Man United dream next season

Image: Andreas Pereira is looking forward to fighting for his place at Manchester United

Andreas Pereira is enjoying life in La Liga with Granada but he remains determined to force his way into Jose Mourinho’s plans at Manchester United next season.

The 21-year-old, who is on a season-long loan from United, has been an ever-present for Granada this season, starting 25 and appearing as a substitute in another one of their 28 La Liga matches.

Though Los Carmenes have struggled and currently sit 19th in the La Liga table, seven points adrift of safety, Pereira has been a bright spark with four goals and two assists from an advanced midfield role.

Javier Mascherano and Andreas Pereira in action when Barcelona faced Granada in La Liga in 2016/17
Image: Javier Mascherano and Pereira in action when Barcelona faced Granada in La Liga

"I'm playing well," Pereira told ManUtd.com. "I'm trying to do my job and am getting a lot of minutes. For me, it's been very good playing here at a high level in Spain, in La Liga, every week.

"I get to train and focus hard for the games and, for me, it's been very good. Unfortunately for the team, it's been a bit difficult this season but we're trying to get out of this situation as quickly as possible."

Pereira, who was born in Belgium and is the son of former Brazilian professional footballer Marcos Pereira, joined United from PSV Eindhoven as a 16-year-old in 2012 after receiving a visit from Sir Alex Ferguson.

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And he has kept in regular contact with both the coaching staff and his team-mates at his parent club throughout this season.

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Pereira said: "It was nice to hear from Jose Mourinho and it's nice that the people at United trust me and I always feel that they are watching. For me, that's very important. I'm doing my thing here but I'm still a United player.

"[Assistant manager] Rui Faria sometimes sends me messages and asks how it is going. He contacted me to say I scored a good goal and I am happy when I get recognised for doing good things and to know that they're watching.

Axel Tuanzebe, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Andreas Pereira joke around during Man United training
Image: Axel Tuanzebe, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Andreas Pereira joke around during Man United training

"I speak with Adnan [Januzaj] sometimes and [Paul] Pogba, Timothy [Fosu-Mensah], [Eric] Bailly, [Antonio] Valencia. I keep in touch with lots of players, [Juan] Mata too, as I was there a long time and they're my friends.

"I miss them as well, to be honest, so it's good to keep in touch. Sometimes, when we have days off, we try to see each other but it's difficult with the flights here as there are none direct from Manchester."

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Only Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juan Mata have scored more league goals for United this season than the four Pereira has managed in La Liga.

And he hopes to arrive back at Carrington next summer as a better, more mature player who is ready to prove to Mourinho he can be an asset for United next season.

"It's my dream to play for United on a regular basis," Pereira said. "It always has been a dream but now I'm here at Granada and I have to focus here to get us out of this situation.

"My dream will always be there and, next season, I will fight for it."

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