Paul Merson told Sky Sports News (07/08/21 at 2:10 pm) that West Ham United and Leeds-linked Matheus Pereira will ‘regret’ joining Al-Hilal.
It could have been oh so different for the now-departed West Brom player, who was wanted by the likes of West Ham and Leeds this summer.
Rather than take up the option of playing Premier League football and representing either West Ham in Europe or a Leeds team managed by the great Marcelo Bielsa, he has opted to join a Saudi Arabian side for, well leave that to your imagination.
Merson made it pretty clear that Pereira had ‘a lot to offer’ to the Premier League and he didn’t mince his words as to why the playmaker has headed to a league of such low quality.
“At that age it is,” said Merson. “It’s disappointing at that age. I do like him. I think he’s a good player and he has got a lot to offer in the Premier League.
“At 25, he had another good five years playing in the best league in the world. Then he could have gone over there. It’s disappointing.
“The kid will regret that. I say regret it, I am sure he hasn’t gone there on a youth training scheme, has he?
“He will be getting bundles of money and that’s what he has gone for. He has gone for nothing else.”
Both West Ham and Leeds have probably got lucky on this occasion because Pereira’s attitude towards leaving West Brom was there for all to see.
The Brazilian even came out and released a statement on Twitter – aimed at his then-manager – that he is committed to the cause, despite accusations that he wasn’t – and the West Brom supporters weren’t best pleased.
But whilst Pereira was ‘committed’ to the cause, in the same breath he wanted a move, and not to England’s top-flight, but to a league that can’t even compete with England’s fourth-tier.
Either way, what Al-Hilal’s gain is probably West Brom, Leeds, West Ham and any other interested parties gain also.
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