Andreas Pereira Rejects Deal, Have Manchester United Learned from Paul Pogba?

Considered to be the world's third largest club, behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, Manchester United are meant to hold a certain cachet.

As youth talent like Martin Odegaard or Alen Halilovic have chosen to forge careers with Spanish giants in past months, the notion that like-minded starlets are willing to leave Old Trafford in search of "greener pastures" seems unthinkable—but it could be happening, again.

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Older, and possibly wiser, than when he signed at 15, Andreas Pereira (per the Daily Mail's Chris Cutmore) has rejected a new contact with the Red Devils.

Yet to make a Premier League appearance for Manchester United, the 19-year-old Belgian has suitors across the European continent—all hoping to snap him up for free this summer.

One interested club has a terrific history with this tactic, even if they have only done it once: Juventus.

In 2012, the Italian club pounced on Paul Pogba's displeasure with his role at Manchester United. Not wanting to further his career at Old Trafford, the prodigious Frenchman found his way to Juventus Stadium and has blossomed into arguably the best young footballer in the world.

Winner of two Serie A crowns, the 2013 U23 FIFA World Cup and the best young player award at the 2014 World Cup, Pogba—who turns 22 in March—is the master of his fate.

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According to Metro's Hannah Duncan, Pogba is wanted by Chelsea, Real Madrid and his former employers Manchester United—should he wish to leave. Pogba will not be leaving for free this time, however. The basement price—albeit set by his agent Mino Raiola—has been suggested at €100 million (just under £73 million).

To make matters worse for United supporters, Pereira has been recruited by Pogba to Italy, telling Tuttosport (h/t Dally Mail):

"

Everyone knows that Juve are a great club.

I have spoken with Pogba many times, he is a good friend and he told me that I would be well served in moving to Turin, both personally and professionally, two important things for me.

"

Is it possible Pogba's words carry more weight in 2015 than those from the hallowed stomping grounds of Manchester United? One would hope not. As England's best club over the past quarter century, being undercut by word of mouth seems unbecoming.

Louis van Gaal and his club do have two things going for them in this situation.

First, Pogba's world-class talent was evident. Why Sir Alex Ferguson elected not to play the French teenager in a depleted United midfield was baffling just as much then as now.

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Pereria, by all accounts, is a great prospect but shows nothing close to the promise Pogba did. Were Van Gaal to lose a serviceable player, rather than one who blossoms into an alleged €100 million player, one would think the Dutchman and his club's supporters could sleep easy at night.

Secondly, Manchester United are not struggling for attacking midfielders at the moment. Juan Mata and Ander Herrera, at times, have found minutes scarce this season—and Pereria currently cannot tie their boot laces.

United's worry here is not losing Pereria's singular talent, since in the grand scheme he is unlikely to become a world-beating player. Their worry should be the burgeoning trend of promising young footballers wishing to develop their talent elsewhere.

Has the Theatre of Dreams lost its lustre?

Is Old Trafford no longer an attractive place to build one's career?

All questions winning sorts, no doubt. But as young players like Danny Welbeck have found the process of integration at United difficult, there is an argument to be made United's platform has fallen back—if ever so slightly.