ANDREAS PEREIRA has revealed he was warned not to say anything after being “smashed” by Paul Scholes at Manchester United.
The midfielder joined the Red Devils after impressing at the Man Utd Premier Cup in 2011.
Pereira, 28, was scouted by the club and decided to make the move to Old Trafford after his first meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson.
He was told by the Scottish manager that “there would always be a spot for a Brazilian” in the team.
Pereira, however, admitted that he was nervous for his first training session with the club’s senior squad.
He admitted that fellow Brazilian Anderson warned him not to speak out if he was kicked.
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During the session, he was “smashed” by Scholes but was praised by the Englishman for standing his ground and not reacting.
Pereira told Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE podcast: “I will never forget my first session, Anderson came to me and warned me ‘They are going to kick you; don’t say nothing.’
“Just stand up and try to kick them back.
“I remember the first tackle and Scholsey smashed me. I just did not say anything and stood up.
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“He came up to me afterwards and said that it was good that I stood my ground.”
Pereira struggled to cement himself in the starting XI during his eight-year spell at Old Trafford.
However, he did admit that Paul Pogba was at a “crazy level” before he left for Juventus.
Pereira added: “It is not because he is my friend, but he is an amazing player.
“When I first arrived at the club, he was the first one to really speak with me.
“On the training pitch I was like ‘I have to get to this level, this is crazy.’
“He is unbelievable, he was easily the best player I have played with. He was powerful, skilful, fast and could score.
“We were not shocked when he went to the first team level. Everyone knew it.”
Pereira joined Fulham in 2022 and has become one of the most consistent midfielders in the Premier League under manager Marco Silva.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
