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.
- Ruben Amorim just got humiliated by Manchester United’s academy stars vs Rosenborg
- Jacob Devaney has one big advantage over Man Utd teammates in effort to breakthrough
- JJ Gabriel sends message after first senior Man Utd pre-season trip
- Six biggest winners from Manchester United’s 5-0 win against Rosenborg
- 12 things I liked and disliked from Man Utd’s 5-0 thrashing of Rosenborg
- Joshua Zirkzee showed for Man Utd vs Rosenborg that he can have a unique role for Carrick
- Shea Lacey impressed Man United’s analysts with more than just his goal vs Rosenborg
- Andrey Santos is fixing Man Utd in an area Casemiro was a problem, it was clear vs Rosenborg
- Three tactical lessons learned about Michael Carrick’s 26/27 approach from Rosenborg friendly
- What Man Utd fans are all saying about Harry Amass after 5-0 win vs Rosenborg, ‘this was an audition…’
- Five things learned in Man Utd’s 5-0 win over Rosenborg
- Man Utd vs Rosenborg player ratings, Zirkzee masterful but 9/10 star is making a new position his own
- 10 best Man Utd fan reactions to Shea Lacey’s first-half performance against Rosenborg, one feeling is clear
- Who is Nicolò Tresoldi? The Italy-born Germany youth striker linked with Man Utd
- Youri Tielemans’ past injuries and age cannot overshadow immediate solution solved in Man Utd’s post-Casemiro era
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
