Lazio have signed Manchester United player Andreas Pereira.
The 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder will join the Biancocelesti on loan (for the 2020/21 season) with an option to buy (set at €22-23 million).
He will make around €2.2 million (including bonuses) this year; however, it is important to note that Pereira’s salary for the 2020/21 campaign will be split between the two clubs, with Lazio paying 65% and United paying 35% of his wages.
Furthermore, if the Biancocelesti decide to redeem the player at the end of the season, the two clubs will work on coming to an agreement on the inclusion of a clause that would see the Red Devils receive 5-10% of his future sale.
Pereira joined United in 2012 for a minimal fee after brief spells with the youth clubs of Lommel United (2002–2005) and PSV Eindhoven (2005-2011). Since then, he has worked his way through the youth ranks (U18 and U23 teams) before making his debut with the first team in 2014.
After spending both the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons on loan at Spanish La Liga side Granada CF, he has since remained in Manchester, making a total of 62 appearances between the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons.
However, following the arrival of Donny van de Beek, the player’s chances of first-team minutes under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started to look increasingly slim; he was left out of the squad for United’s first two Premier League matches of the season.
As Lazio have been looking to further reinforce their midfield – after signing the likes of Gonzalo Escalante (on a free transfer) and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro (from Salernitana) – and as Pereira wanted to play consistently (preferably with a top tier club in Europe), this is a move that satisfies all parties involved; especially due to the fact that the Biancocelesti are also in the UEFA Champions League.
