Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri has little to no chance of ever making the grade at Old Trafford and has been advised to quit the Red Devils for the good of his career.
The 20-year-old winger signed for United in October 2020, costing a sizeable £10m fee from Uruguayan side Penarol. Indeed, his arrrival at the club came after a recommendation to then-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from his former strike partner Diego Forlan.
His signing appeared even more bizarre when, on the same day, United also shelled out a fee that could top £34m for another unproven winger in Amad Diallo.
But while Diallo has been given fleeting chances in the side, Pellistri is yet to feature in a senior game at Old Trafford.
Indeed, Pellistri has spent the last 18 months on loan in LaLiga with Alaves, where he’s made 35 appearances without scoring.
However, he was unable to secure a move away this time around despite United reportedly making him available for loan.
Now stuck in their Under-23s and with little prospect of making the bench, Pellestri has been told he needs to leave when the next chance arrives.
Indeed, the likes of Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Anthony Elanga are all ahead of him in the pecking order. As such, his prospects of seeing first-team football under Erik ten Hag look bleak to say the least.
Now former Tottenham and Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet is advising his countryman to quit the club. Pellistri has six senior caps for Uruguay, but Poyet doubts he will be adding to that if he continues as he is.
Indeed, the winger has designs on making Uruguay’s World Cup squad. But even Poyet reckons that is a tad ambitious.
Facundo Pellistri urged to seek transfer
“Pellistri will struggle to get game time,” Poyet told Midnite. “It would be good for him to go somewhere and play, because the World Cup is around the corner and he is very important for the Uruguay team because the coach [Diego Alonso] has lots of faith in his ability, he’s a proper winger.”
With the World Cup now only a matter of 68 days away, it seems unlikely Pellistri will get the move he needs. Most transfer windows around the world are now closed, limiting his options for securing a move away.
Despite that, Poyet reckons Pellistri should follow the example set by Luis Suarez. The former Liverpool and Atletico Madrid striker moved back to his homeland simply to play regular football.
And that is a lesson that Pellistri can learn.
Poyet added: “He needs to find a place to play. Look at Luis Suarez who is playing at Nacional week in week out, training with the first team and getting game time three months before the World Cup. Pellistri should do something similar.”
Not looking good for the winger
There are still countries with their summer windows still open. For example, Qatar, Greece, Serbia and Saudi Arabia remain open for a couple more days.
However, perhaps only Greece – and then a side who can offer European football – would only offer Pellistri the level of football he needs.
Truth be told, his agent should have fixed him up sooner and before the major European window closed.
That failure may cost him a place at the World Cup. And if he makes it into Uruguay’s squad, that will afford him the chance to shine on the world stage.
As it stands, a bleak future awaits Facundo Pellistri. Still only 20, there is of course time on his hands to fulfil his huge potential.
But the immediate future does not look good. And barring an injury crisis, he won’t be seen any time soon in Manchester United shirt.
