Andreas Pereira Talks Louis Van Gaal, Manchester United Ahead of FA Cup Final

Manchester United youngster Andreas Pereira is still waiting for manager Louis van Gaal to fulfil his promise of first-team football after the Dutchman prevented him from moving on a loan deal in January. 

Per the Mirror's Matt Lawless, the midfielder said:

"

He told me to stay in Manchester because he would use me and that I would play.

I wanted to be loaned out in January in order to play more and to keep developing myself, but Van Gaal told me that he did not want me to be loaned out.

I told him that was fine, and that if I could stay and play then I would. He did not let me leave. I took the decision and now I’m training, doing my job and waiting for him to fulfil his word.

I’m very calm because everyone sees that I'm playing well and that I deserve my shot.

"

As noted by Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News, the 20-year-old has been given little opportunity to shine since then:

Pereira has stood out at youth level, with eight goals and seven assists in 13 under-21 appearances this season, but it seems that has not been enough to convince Van Gaal to give him a chance in the first team despite the club struggling for an attacking spark and Jesse Lingard hardly pulling up trees.

The Brazilian's omission appears even stranger with the likes of Marouane Fellaini continuing to play a major role in the team. Per football writer Liam Canning, the warning signs were there in January as Pereira sought to go out on loan:

Further, the MEN's Samuel Luckhurst believed his attire at the club's recent end-of-year awards was a telling indication of Van Gaal's opinion of him:

While his presence in the under-21s has clearly been beneficial to them—his efforts helped fire them to the Division 1 Premier League title—on a personal level, a move away and more regular first-team football would likely have been better for his development. 

Bajkowski believes as much:

The Red Devils' only remaining match this season is Saturday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, so it seems highly unlikely Pereira will feature in the showpiece given how few opportunities he's been given in recent months.

For next season, he needs to either be given a fair chance in the first team or a move away. Another season of just playing at youth level will do him little good.