Joel Pereira left Manchester United in the summer after his contract expired at the end of June.
The goalkeeper was once very highly rated but lost his way amid a series of unimpressive loan spells.
The last was a season spent as Huddersfield Town back-up, and in the two games he did play, he conceded 11 goals.
Pereira started afresh in the Netherlands this summer, quickly signing a deal with Eredivisie side RKC Waalwijk.
The Eredivisie season began at the weekend and it pitted RKC Waalwijk against AZ Alkmaar.
Last season AZ Alkmaar finished in third place in the Eredivisie with 71 points, while Waalwijk mustered only 30 and finished 15th, one point above the relegation play-off place.
Pereira’s side got off to a perfect start, pulling off a 1-0 upset win to start the season in style.
The Portuguese goalkeeper, now 25, played a starring role as he helped his side keep a clean sheet.
Pereira made five saves, defying an ‘Expected Goals Against’ of 1.76, also claiming two crosses.
You could see from his celebration at full-time what it meant for the former Manchester United prospect.
Also featuring for Waalwijk in the win was former Manchester United title winner, Alexander Buttner, now 32.
A clean sheet well earned
Pereira deserved his clean sheet and his career after leaving Manchester United is now off to the best possible start.
After a tough last couple of seasons, including a confidence-sapping loan at Hearts, Pereira needed to find a club who would offer him regular first team football.
He has managed to find that in a top flight league, and while there will be even tougher games to come, Pereira has begun well.
Pereira’s last clean sheet came for Hearts against Falkirk in February 2020. He won’t want to wait so long for his next one.
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