Pereira first signed professional terms with United at the start of 2013, the year in which he captained the club’s Milk Cup-winning team in Northern Ireland and was voted Player of the Tournament.

By being involved with the Under-21 squad at the end of 2012/13, it was clear that, even then, he was held in very high regard within the Aon Training Complex. And the young schemer scored on his first full appearance at that level, curling home the winner in the clash against West Ham United at Old Trafford.

Comfortable in possession, he is also an excellent set-piece taker and had an impressive record at international level for the Belgium youth team, before opting to represent the country of his parents’ birth, Brazil. He did so at the Under-20 World Cup in 2015 and scored a superb strike for the South Americans against Serbia.

By then, he had played twice for United’s first team as a substitute – his debut, in the League Cup defeat away to MK Dons in August 2014 ,and his maiden league outing in the home victory over Spurs in March 2015.

Pereira registered 11 first-team appearances in 2015/16 and notched his first senior goal, with a delicious free-kick against Ipswich Town in the League Cup.

The skilful youngster spent the 2016/17 campaign at Granada and although they were relegated from La Liga, he gained plenty of experience playing in a variety of roles. Another season-long loan followed in 2017/18 when he joined another Spanish club, Valencia.

When he returned to United in the summer of 2018, then manager Jose Mourinho was impressed with the midfielder’s development in his two years abroad and subsequently selected him in the first game of the season, a 2-1 win against Leicester City.

He continued to improve in his first full season as an established senior member of the squad, and made his senior international debut for Brazil in a 5-0 win over El Salvador in September 2018.

Andreas made 22 appearances in all competitions and, notably, scored his first Premier League goal in the dramatic 3-2 win over Southampton in March 2019. The long-distance strike was later voted the club’s Goal of the Season by United fans.

Four days after the win against the Saints, the right-footed playmaker was also part of the famous 3-1 win away at Paris Saint-Germain. His performance, like Pereira’s 2018/19 campaign as a whole, revealed an ambitious player growing in maturity and discipline.

On 5 July 2019, it was announced that Andreas had signed a new contract to keep him at the club until June 2023, with the option to extend for a further year. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, his manager since December 2018, said: “Andreas has become an important member of the squad with his energy and hard work in midfield. He works non-stop every day in training, has a great character and knows what he has to do to continue his development here.”

The midfielder spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan with Lazio in Serie A, making 33 appearances across all competitions and scoring one goal.