Andreas Pereira was stunned when he first met Sir Alex FergusonCredit: Getty – Contributor

The Scot claimed there would ‘always be a spot for a Brazilian’ in his teamCredit: Getty

Pereira, 28, had attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

However, he had his mind made up during a visit to the Red Devils’ Carrington training ground.

During the tour, the midfielder was surprisingly introduced to Sir Alex Ferguson, who insisted that he would “always make space for a Brazilian” in his team team.

Pereira said on Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE podcast: “When I went to the training ground, they didn’t even say you are going to meet Fergie or anyone.

“I remember walking in Carrington, and I was like I want to come.

“Then I was told, ‘someone wants to meet you’ and it was Fergie.

“I just remember him standing in front and I could not believe it.

“My dad did not know what to do.

“First, he said something and I did not understand it because his English is different.

“And then after that, he said, ‘There is always room for a Brazilian on my team’.

“That stuck with me, and I did not even want to go home I just wanted to stay.”

Pereira struggled to cement himself in the starting eleven during his eight-year spell at Old Trafford.

The midfielder was loaned out on four occasions to Granada, Valencia, Lazio and Flamengo.

He admitted that he made the move back to his native Brazil because he wanted to “feel the love” despite playing for his boyhood club Santos’ rivals.

He added: “I wanted to play in Brazil, I wanted to feel loved.

“I did not feel the love that I thought I should get.

“I wanted the love from my own people and be close to my family.

“I just wanted to enjoy football.

“I used to support Santos, and I did an interview three weeks before the move saying would play for free for Santos.

“And then I went to Flamengo.”

Pereira joined Fulham in 2022 and has become one of the most consistent midfielders in the Premier League under manager Marco Silva.