Facundo Pellistri joined Manchester United from Uruguayan club Penarol to much fanfare at Old Trafford. The young winger was seen as the perfect player with a clear pathway to first-team football, considering how United splashed a whopping $12 million to secure his transfer from his native Uruguay at just 18 years of age.
Sadly, Facundo Pellistri has spent the last four years moving from club to club on loan despite his obvious ability, especially whenever he gets rare game time with United. His latest loan is to Granada, and the young winger’s agent has now hit out at Erik ten Hag for not giving him as many chances as other youngsters at Old Trafford.
Pellistri’s agent blasts Erik Ten Hag over winger’s treatment
Facundo Pellistri’s Manchester United career has been more of a rollercoaster ride. The young Uruguayan is obviously talented and has even secured 18 senior caps for his country, which highlights his maturity on the biggest stages for his national team.
However, Erik ten Hag doesn’t share the same belief in Pellistri, as he has rarely given him an adequate chance to impress at Old Trafford. Ten Hag has been criticized in the past for having his own players, whom he continues to pick for games, even when they’re obviously out of sorts.
Facundo Pellistri’s agent has now hit out at the Dutchman after the youngster secured another loan deal to La Liga side Granada before the end of the January transfer window.
“Whether he returns to Manchester in the middle of the year will depend on the performance he shows,” Edgardo Lasalvia, the winger’s agent, frankly said.
“If Ten Hag continues, it’s going to be difficult. Ten Hag hasn’t used him, valued him, or treated him like a professional,” he added.
United have been sanctioning many loan deals since the 25% takeover of the club by INEOS Group led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and they have shown their intention to make things better for the fans by appointing former Manchester City’s CEO Omar Berrada as the new club CEO.
Pellistri impressed compatriot Barcelona star
While Pellistri struggled to break into the Manchester United regular squad before his recent loan move to Granada, he has impressed a few people, including his compatriot and Barcelona star Ronald Araujo, whom United and Bayern Munich are also reportedly interested in signing.
The Barcelona defender was asked which player impressed him the most in the national team with Uruguay, and his response was quite surprising.
“I think Facundo Pellistri is surprising,” the young defender said. “Obviously, we know the quality that Fede Valverde, Betancur, Darwin have…we all know the quality they have, but Facundo Pellistri surprised me quite a bit,” he continued.
“Especially since he hadn’t been playing, and more because of the level that he gave in the national team, that he was spectacular,” Araujo added.
Pellistri will now spend the second half of the season on loan at La Liga side Granada, with the hope of helping them avoid relegation from the top flight. Granada sits 19th in the league with just 11 points from 22 games so far this season.
