Paris Saint-Germain’s signing of midfielder Danilo Pereira from FC Porto on a season-long loan deal was much needed for the club. PSG’s board had spent a bulk of time over the past couple of months surveying the transfer market for a workhorse midfielder. The club had a variety of options to resolve this matter, but in the end, it elected to sign Pereira.
Pereira has not yet featured with PSG since joining the side on transfer deadline day. However, PSG’s coaching staff very likely checked out his performances for Portugal over the recent international break to get a glimpse of his preferred style of play. The Portuguese midfielder earned several starts for Portugal and showed off his prowess as a workhorse passer and defender.
While PSG may still be unsure of how Pereira will fit in with the team, Olympiacos manager Pedro Martins is confident that the midfielder will meet expectations this season. Martins is well familiar with Pereira, as he managed the talent for one season while at Primeira Liga side Maritimo. Martins also wound up facing Pereira during his respective managerial runs at Rico Ave and Vitoria de Guimaraes.
In speaking to RMC Sport, Martins analyzed Pereira’s style of play.
“He is a very intelligent six, who knows how to annihilate the spaces of the adversaries,” Martins said. “Above all else, he quickly reads the game, the actions in front or behind him.
“He is very strong in the aerial game. He can score goals from a set-piece. He may appear low-key during certain meetings, but for a coach, he is very valuable in the game and the balance of a team.
“I can assure you that PSG have recruited a great player and a great man.”
Martins was not surprised when he heard the news that PSG signed Pereira.
“It’s been quite a few years since Danilo was announced starting in a club of a higher dimension,” Martins said. “And PSG is a big club. The only thing that surprises me is that it only happens now. I thought it would happen sooner.”
Pereira will be sure to earn opportunities to regularly feature with PSG this season.
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