{"id":295192,"date":"2023-10-23T13:23:59","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T13:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=295192"},"modified":"2023-10-23T13:23:59","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T13:23:59","slug":"andreas-pereira-reveals-his-bizarre-pre-match-leg-rubbing-superstition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/soccer\/andreas-pereira-reveals-his-bizarre-pre-match-leg-rubbing-superstition\/","title":{"rendered":"Andreas Pereira reveals his bizarre pre-match leg-rubbing superstition"},"content":{"rendered":"
Andreas Pereira might be able to boast the most bizarre pre-match ritual out of any footballer after revealing he rubs a pair of another player’s shorts on his legs before important games.<\/p>\n
The Brazilian came through the youth ranks at Manchester United but struggled to cement a regular first-team place and subsequently joined Fulham in a \u00a310m deal last year.<\/p>\n
However, his time at the Red Devils gave him the chance to rub shoulders with some of the sport’s greatest names and a rare childhood meeting with Brazil icon Kakahas had a lasting impact on the midfielder.<\/p>\n
Like many rising stars at clubs, academy youngsters often work pitch-side as ball boys at matches.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pereira was called on by legendary Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson prior to a Champions League clash against Kaka’s Real Madrid side and asked his fellow countryman for a pair of shorts at the end of the game.<\/p>\n
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Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira has revealed a bizarre pre-match superstition<\/p>\n
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Pereira explained how he will rub a pair of shorts from Brazil legend Kaka on his legs<\/p>\n
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Pereira revealed he got the shorts of Kaka while deployed as a ball boy during his Manchester United youth<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
Now at the age of 27, the Fulham star told ESPN Brasil how he keeps the shorts in a safe but takes them out for important matches and rubs them over his legs to give him confidence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘It was a Champions League match between Manchester and Real Madrid and I was a ball boy,’ explained Pereiera.<\/p>\n
‘Alex Ferguson asked the U21 and U18 players if they wanted to be ball boys, because he needed the ball quicker and so on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘After the game, I waited and saw Kaka. I asked for his shirt, but he said he’d already changed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Then I said: anything then, a sock, shorts, I don’t know,’ Andreas Pereira told ESPN Brasil.<\/p>\n
‘He said he had a pair of shorts, I said it would do. He gave it to me, it was incredible, and the shorts are still in a safe to this day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Every now and then, before an important game, I go and get them to give me confidence, to rub on my leg.’<\/p>\n
Kaka is an idol in Brazil after winning the World Cup at 20-years-old with the South American nation in 2002. He starred for Real Madrid and AC Milan during an established career before retiring at the age of 35.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Kaka gave Pereira the shorts after a Champions League clash with Real Madrid at Old Trafford<\/p>\n
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Pereira further explained how he started crying when his Fulham team-mate Willian (pictured) called Kaka so they could speak<\/p>\n
However, his star status still has Pereira feeling like a child after the Fulham midfielder further explained he started crying after his club team-mate Willian called Kaka while the pair were relaxing together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Two weeks ago, I was at Willian’s house and he asked me who I really admired,’ added Pereira.<\/p>\n
‘I said I’d always liked Kaka a lot, because of his style of play, he was an example to me. He said he knew Kaka and said he was going to ring him. I thought: he must be joking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I kept quiet, it put me off. He called, I heard his voice and I couldn’t stand it, I cried. I spoke to him, to this day I can’t believe I spoke to Kaka. Everyone was in shock,’ he said.<\/p>\n
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n