Over two years have passed since Facundo Pellistri joined Manchester United but the young winger has still not made his senior debut for the club.
Pellistri has spent the last two seasons on loan at La Liga side Alaves but was left frustrated by the lack of minutes on the pitch. Despite that, he has been a near-permanent fixture in the Uruguay squad.
The youngster impressed during pre-season this summer but it still doesn’t look like Erik ten Hag has any plans on using him this season.
Pellistri is expected to be included in Uruguay’s squad for this winter’s World Cup and speaking ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to get underway in less than three weeks, his agent has claimed that a departure from Old Trafford is ‘imminent’ if his client performs well.
“I think with a good World Cup, as we think he is going to have, his departure [from United] is imminent,” Pellistri’s agent, Edgardo Lasalvia, told ESPN Uruguay, via The Sun.
Pellistri has already been named in Uruguay’s provisional squad for the tournament later this month but he is expected to be named in the final roster.
SN’s verdict…
United have invested heavily in the wide areas over the last two summers and that’s one of the biggest reasons Pellistri will most likely struggle to break into the side.
A loan move after the World Cup seems like a reasonable solution. At his age, sitting on the bench will do him more harm than good and first-team experience is paramount at his stage of development.
