Football
ESPN 6y

Manchester United's Andreas Pereira rejected Romelu Lukaku call to represent Belgium

Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has revealed club teammate Romelu Lukaku tried to convince him to play for Belgium.

Pereira, 22, who was born in the Belgian city of Duffel, represented them at youth level. However, he opted to play for Brazil's under-20s -- the country of his father -- and has been called up to the main squad for the upcoming friendlies against the United States and El Salvador.

"He [Lukaku] tried to convince me," Pereira toldĀ Globo Esporte. "He told me: 'You should play for Belgium.'

"He came to talk to me -- he is always talking to me. I told him: 'It is difficult, Lukaku, it's not the same . Playing for Belgium is something else. To play for Brazil...it's Brazil -- I feel at home.'

"And then he said: 'If this is the case, you need to follow your heart,' and he respected my decision."

Brazil face the U.S. on Sept. 9 and El Salvador three days later.

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