“A real shame” – Claim made on Matheus Pereira’s time at West Brom

West Bromwich Albion saw two scintillating seasons from Matheus Pereira, although supporters were yearning for more.

Pereira initially headed to the Hawthorns on a season-long loan deal in the summer of 2019, joining in what was a left-field move from Sporting CP. The Brazilian had spent the previous campaign on loan in the Bundesliga with FC Nurnberg, and it was no real surprise when he blew the Championship away.

No player across the division set up more goals than Pereira, who provided a staggering 16 assists while plundering home eight strikes of his own and helping the Baggies to return to the Premier League at the second time of asking before signing permanently for £9 million.

West Brom were promptly relegated from the top-flight, although Pereira proved his class at the highest level by finding the back of the net on eleven occasions, earning a move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal that summer.

Pereira’s move to the Middle East, which likely ensured generational wealth while offering fewer footballing incentives, could now be looked back at with regret by both player and club. His time in Saudi Arabia failed to go according to plan and the playmaker returned to Brazil with Cruzeiro last year.

However, supporters also regret not being able to see more of Pereira – his first season with the club was interrupted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, which saw fans unable to properly attend matches for the entirety of the following season.

West Bromwich Albion’s Matheus Pereira regret

We asked our Baggies fan pundit, Callum Burgess, to name one player he wishes he had seen more of at the club and he opted to go with Pereira.

After joining in that season from Sporting Lisbon, initially on loan, he absolutely lit up the Championship, getting more than 20 goals and assists combined and [providing] multiple moments of brilliance and match-winning performances.

“Albion had a really talented player on their hands.

“Obviously, Albion were able to buy Pereira but of course in that second season in the Premier League, it was during lockdown so we only really had those 30 first games until COVID disrupted the season where he was with us.

“We missed the entirety of the Premier League campaign apart from one game against West Ham United where fans were gradually allowed in, but it would’ve been nice to have someone of Pereira’s talent and brilliance before he went to Saudi Arabia, being enticed to the finances offered to him by Al-Hilal and subsequently going to Brazil.

“It’s a real shame that we weren’t able to see more of Pereira before he left, he’s a real talented player no doubt about it. He’s one of the best players Albion have had.”

West Bromwich Albion are yet to replace Matheus Pereira

Rather unsurprisingly, Albion have not come close to replacing Pereira since his departure in August 2021.

Pereira was a class act at both Championship and Premier League level. The Brazilian maverick was classes above the second-tier and made a real impression in the top-flight too, and West Brom would do well to sign anyone in the coming seasons capable of having a similar impact.

Doing so, of course, will be a tall order. Pereira was well above West Brom’s level even when they were in the Premier League, and the chances of a Championship club signing a player of that quality are remote.