In the most traditional moves in the loan market, lower league clubs look upwards to ‘bigger’ clubs and strengthen their ranks with ‘promising youngsters’ or ‘exciting prospects. This is what Rochdale have done in regard to Manchester United and their capture of keeper Joel Pereira according to the Manchester Evening News.
When you are looking ‘up to clubs’, they don’t come much bigger than multi-time Premier League winners Manchester United, a world class team with a scouting network to match. A scouting network that sends talent scouts around the world, scouts searching and scouring for new talent to bring back to Old Trafford.
One such player is current Manchester United prospect Joel Castro Pereira, the 19-year old Portuguese-born keeper who has been playing in Manchester United’s Under-21 set up at Old Trafford. Pereira, who signed for Manchester United from Swiss side Neuchâtel Xamamx, has signed on at Spotland on a month’s loan deal, a deal that has got ‘Dale boss Keith Hill a tad excited.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Hill said, “I’m really pleased to be working with him [Pereira]. He’s an exciting goalkeeper. His distribution is flamboyant and his ability in goal is absolutely magnificent.” Rochdale seem to have brought Pereira in to fulfill a dual purpose in getting himself in the first team jersey but also allowing Rochdale’s young keeper Johnny Diba time to drop back into the youth set ups at Spotland and get some game time of his own. On this subject, Rochdale’s first team goalkeeping coach, Steve Collis, echoes this sentiment stating,
“Johny needs to supplement his training with time on the pitch because he hasn’t had that for some time now. He’s a young goalkeeper with a lot of ability and in order for him to develop he needs to learn more about the game experience. He skipped the youth team, if you like, after making his first team debut at just 16-years old, so he perhaps needs to dip into the Youth Team.” Steve Collis: Rochdale club website – October 16, 2015
Media sources are hinting that the on-loan Manchester United youngster might be in line for an appearance straight in the Rochdale first team squad for tomorrow’s game at Bury.
