Man United news: Romelu Lukaku fails in attempt to get Andreas Pereira to turn his back on Brazil for Belgium
Star is hoping to win his first cap for the Samba Boys against USA or El Salvador but reveals his club-mate's international plea
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MANCHESTER UNITED star Romelu Lukaku attempted to convince Andreas Pereira to turn his back on Brazil for Belgium.
The 22-year-old midfielder is in the senior Samba Boys squad for the first time and is hoping to win his first caps against USA and El Salvador over the upcoming days.
However Pereira, born to Brazilian parents in Belgium, could have been lining up against Scotland and Netherlands instead if his Red Devils team-mate had his way.
Speaking to , the former Granada and Valencia loanee said: “He tried to convince me. He spoke to me: ‘You have to play for Belgium’. He came to talk to me, he’s always talking to me.
“I told him ‘it’s difficult, Lukaku, can’t do it, it’s not the same. Playing for Belgium is something else. Playing for the Brazilian national team… It’s Brazil, I feel at home’.
“Then Lukaku said: ‘If that’s the way it is, you have to follow your heart’.
“And then he respected my decision.”
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Pereira was back in Belgium over the summer as Roberto Martinez’s side dumped Brazil out of the World Cup in the quarters.
And despite witnessing his nation of birth outclass the South American powerhouse, even that result did not sway him.
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He said: “It was complicated. I was in Belgium watching and it was difficult to see Brazil lose. Everybody messing with me. Wow, it was… I was very angry.
“I have a friend from Belgium and I was watching it with him. I couldn’t do it, I left the room, I got very mad. And they all had a laugh, my father’s friends saying ‘wow, look at Brazil there, you have to choose Belgium, you have to choose Belgium’. I said, ‘I can’t do it, I can’t do it’.”
Pereira has featured twice for Manchester United this season but is still struggling to nail down a regular spot in Jose Mourinho’s matchday squad.
But whatever happens next, the ace knows exactly where he wants to play if he leaves Old Trafford.
Pereira added: “I’m a Santos fan. My whole family are Santos fans and I grew up being a Santos fan.
“If it’s to play, I’d rather play at Santos, end my career there. I think it’s a dream. There are a lot of players who say I’m crazy, but I’d play for free at Santos if I had to.
“It’s a dream. Who knows right after Manchester, winning a couple of titles here.”