​Andreas Pereira has insisted that Jose Mourinho’s disappointment at his decision to leave Manchester United for Valencia is a good thing.

Mourinho questioned Pereira’s desire to fight for a place at Old Trafford, after the 21-year-old left on a season-long loan.

But the midfielder says he has been buoyed by the United manager’s comments, rather than hurt by the criticism.

He told Marca: “It didn’t hurt me. I spoke to him before I came here. I’m happy that he wants me and I think to myself that if I wasn’t a good player he wouldn’t have wanted me to stay.

“I look at the positives. If I thought negatively those comments could have hurt me but for me it’s something good. I spoke to him before I came and I wanted to work hard and stay the whole year. I’m focused on Valencia.

“I want to give my all and do the best I can in order to be at Valencia the whole year. I was told that I was going to play here a year and I want to remain here a year.”

Pereira signed a contract extension at United before leaving for Valencia.