FULHAM midfielder Andreas Pereira has revealed that he sometimes rubs a pair of Kaka’s shorts on his legs before a big match.
Pereira, 27, joined Fulham in a £13million transfer from Manchester United last year and has since become a fan favourite.
The midfielder had spent 10 years with United after joining the club’s academy at the age of 16.
And he recently recalled the time he and some team-mates were asked to be ball boys for a first-team match.
Pereira, who switched his international allegiance from Belgium to Brazil as a teenager, was a huge fan of Real Madrid legend Kaka.
The Fulham star admitted he asked the Brazilian for his shirt during a match between the Red Devils and Los Blancos, but ended up with his shorts instead.
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During an interview with ESPN Brazil, Pereira said: “It was a Champions League match between Manchester and Real Madrid and I was a ball boy.
“Alex Ferguson asked the U21 and U18 players if they wanted to be ball boys, because he needed the ball quicker and so on.
“After the game, I waited and saw Kaka. I asked for his shirt, but he said he’d already changed. Then I said: anything then, a sock, shorts, I don’t know.
“He said he had a pair of shorts, I said it would do. He gave it to me, it was incredible, and the shorts are still in a safe to this day.”
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Pereira went on to reveal that he rubs the shorts on his legs for confidence before a big game, adding: “Every now and then, before an important game, I go and get them to give me confidence, to rub on my leg.”
The midfielder then admitted that he cried when speaking to Kaka properly for the first time – just a few weeks ago.
He added: “Two weeks ago, I was at Willian’s house and he asked me who I really admired. I said I’d always liked Kaka a lot, because of his style of play, he was an example to me.
“He said he knew Kaka and said he was going to ring him. I thought: he must be joking. I kept quiet, it put me off.
“He called, I heard his voice and I couldn’t stand it, I cried. I spoke to him, to this day I can’t believe I spoke to Kaka. Everyone was in shock.
“Kaka even said that when he came here we were going to do something, and I joked with Willian: don’t even call me, I’ll freeze at the table.
“He’s always been an idol to me, I’ve always liked his style. A very special person.”
Pereira has made 47 appearances for Fulham since joining the club last summer, scoring six goals and providing seven assists.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
