Andreas Pereira finally made his debut for Palmeiras after leaving Fulham, and the first signs were positive both on the pitch and in the numbers.
The midfielder, who arrived as the club’s main reinforcement for the second half of the season, came on in the second half of the 4-1 win over Internacional in the Brasileirão.
According to figures highlighted by [**ESPN Brazil**](https://www.espn.com.br/futebol/palmeiras/artigo/_/id/15672024/o-que-numeros-dizem-sobre-estreia-andreas-pereira-pelo-palmeiras), Andreas led four different stats during his 28 minutes on the pitch: ball actions (33), progressive actions (9), accurate passes (28) and shots (2). His impact was immediate, with the former Fulham player taking a central role in Palmeiras’ attacking rhythm.
Assistant coach João Martins praised the versatility that the new signing brings to the squad. Speaking in the post-match press conference, he explained that Andreas’ ability will give manager Abel Ferreira an edge as the season develops.
Martins even referred to Pereira’s time at the Craven Cottage: _“He played there as a number 8, as a number 10, as an inside midfielder… that gives us several options to think about depending on the opponent and the game.”_
The midfielder himself also spoke after the game, telling SporTV: _“It is a very important victory. I was very happy, I am very happy to be here. I want to thank the fans for the support and for the affection.”_
Palmeiras’ coaching staff will now be looking at how to integrate him further, with Andreas expected to play an important role in the months ahead.