Jose Mourinho questions Andreas Pereira's decision to leave Manchester United on loan for Valencia

Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers

Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

Jose Mourinho has questioned young midfielder Andreas Pereira's decision to leave Old Trafford on a loan move to Spanish side Valencia, rather than remain and fight for a place in Manchester United’s first team squad.

The 21-year-old Brazilian defied Mourinho’s express advice when he sought, and accepted, a temporary move to La Liga side, having spent all of last season on loan at Granada.

Pereira, signed as a youth player from PSV Eindhoven five years ago, has yet to start a league game for United but is so highly regarded that he was handed a new, long-term deal by Mourinho this summer, just as he decided to move elsewhere.

“His was a personal decision that I don't agree with, a decision I don't think honestly is the best decision for him, a decision that disappoints me,” said Mourinho.

“He has the potential to be fighting for a position, fighting for opportunities and fighting to be a Manchester United player.”

Given the depth of the squad Mourinho has at his disposal this season, it is not hard to understand why Pereira may have thought he would be better served by moving elsewhere to gain more experience.

But Mourinho added: “His decision can be considered a young player who wants to play every weekend but also a young player that is not ready to fight for something difficult.

“And it's difficult to play in Manchester United’s midfield. You have to be ready to fight for the position and I am disappointed he left.

“But it was his decision, I opened the door for his decision. He has a long-term contract, we have the option to bring him back on January 1, so is not a drama but is a decision which disappoints me a little bit.”

Mourinho has also welcomed the decision made by Premier League clubs to bring forward the summer transfer window in 2018 to the Thursday before the new campaign kicks off.

But he is wary of the danger that some English clubs may lose players to foreign teams who can still sign stars until the end of August.

He said: “As the head coach of Manchester United, obviously I am in favour of that because if I focus just on the training process of course.

“I want to arrive, day one, I want to have my squad, my players, I want to work and travel with them in pre-season, I don't want to be waiting for late decisions.

“But there is another perspective, and I have to share the problems the board has, and that is that obviously when the decision is not uniform around Europe and all the championships then we are opening a disadvantage for the English clubs.

“That was the reason why Manchester United voted against because there is another element - the market will be closed for us and is open for others and they can come to the English clubs, buy players, and they can leave English clubs without the possibility of a big action, so it's another element of weakness.

“If you ask me about Manchester United, I hope we are strong and powerful enough. We also close our doors and say the offer doesn't matter, we close the market for buying, for selling.

“I expect my club to be acting that way but there are other English clubs that will be in risk. I hope it goes to the perfect situation, which is to close for every championship and not just the Premier League.”