Former Man United star Andreas Pereira reveals his bizarre pre-match leg-rubbing superstition... and it's all linked to his love for Brazil icon Kaka

 

Former Manchester United star Andreas Pereira has revealed a bizarre pre-match superstition that involves rubbing a pair of another player's shorts on his legs.

 

The Brazilian midfielder, who now plays for Fulham, says that he started doing the ritual after meeting his idol, Kaka, when he was a ball boy at a Champions League match between Manchester United and Real Madrid in 2009.

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"I waited and saw Kaka," Pereira told ESPN Brasil. "I asked him for his shorts and he gave them to me. I keep them in a safe place and every now and then, before an important game, I go and get them to give me confidence, to rub on my leg."

Pereira says that the ritual is not just about good luck, but also about feeling connected to Kaka, who is one of his biggest inspirations.

"Kaka is an idol in Brazil," Pereira said. "He won the World Cup at 20 years old and starred for Real Madrid and AC Milan. I still feel like a child when I think about him. Two weeks ago, I was at Willian's house and he asked me who I really admired. I said Kaka and he called him on the phone. I started crying."

 

Pereira's superstition is certainly unusual, but he is not the only footballer to have strange pre-match rituals. For example, former England goalkeeper David James used to kiss the crossbar before every game, while current Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has a number of different rituals, including stepping onto the pitch with his right foot first and chewing gum for exactly five minutes before kick-off.

Whether or not Pereira's superstition actually works is up for debate, but it is clear that it gives him a sense of confidence and motivation before important games. And as any footballer knows, confidence can be the key to success on the pitch.

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