Jose Mourinho’s treatment of Andreas Pereira is disgraceful. Bring him back into Manchester United’s starting XI!

Jose Mourinho warned Andreas Pereira off from going on loan again. Now he’s letting the Brazil international rot away on Manchester United’s bench. This is a grossly unfair way to treat a young and talented player.

Like many Manchester United fans, when I heard that Andreas Pereira would not be going on loan this season – or worse, leaving the club – I was ecstatic.

Sir Alex Ferguson himself recruited the midfielder back in 2011, showing just how promising the young talent really is. However, Pereira has struggled to get game time in the first team, forcing him to go on loan for the last two seasons – to La Liga sides Granada and Valencia respectively.

When Pereira decided to go on loan for the second season in a row without consulting Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese did not hide his disappointment – suggesting that he had plans for the midfielder that campaign.

But now that Pereira has decided to stay at Old Trafford so that he can play for the manager, Mourinho doesn’t even play him. What’s that all about, Jose?

United have had a midfield problem under Mourinho. Nemanja Matic has been abysmal at holding midfield this season, Ander Herrera doesn’t contribute anything in an attacking sense and Fred has been a mixed bag since joining the club in the summer for £52 million.

In the recent Manchester derby, in which Manchester City beat us 3-1, Paul Pogba was unavailable due to injury. This would’ve been the perfect time to bring Pereira back into the fold to be the creative outlet from midfield in the Frenchman’s absence. But the manager had other plans in mind.

Mourinho decided to play the physical but not technically gifted Marouane Fellaini instead – and our attack suffered because of it.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m actually one of the Belgian’s biggest fans – but he isn’t a like-for-like replacement for Pogba. Pereira, on the other hand, has the confidence, flair and ability to play as a more creative midfielder.

Mourinho did in fact play Pereira towards the start of the season, although bizarrely, as a defensive midfielder – so no wonder he didn’t impress.

If the manager wants to solve United’s midfield problem, he needs to play Pereira in his preferred position. If he doesn’t start doing so soon, the 22-year-old may look for a move elsewhere – permanently – and we wouldn’t blame.

Do you agree that Andreas Pereira should play more often for Manchester United? Or are you content with Jose Mourinho’s current midfield selection? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!