Facundo Pellistri, the young Uruguayan winger, has made a significant impact at Manchester United since joining the team from Penarol in October 2020 for £9 million. After more than two years of waiting, Pellistri finally made his debut for the Red Devils in a League Cup quarterfinal match against Charlton earlier this month.
His impressive performance as a substitute in Manchester United’s recent 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest caught the eye of head coach Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag was so impressed by Pellistri’s debut that he gave the 21-year-old another opportunity to shine by replacing Antony in the 70th minute of the League Cup match against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
With ten Hag’s support, it looks like Pellistri will be taking on an expanded role with the team during the upcoming season.
The Uruguayan player has made two appearances in the under-16 level. He even played for Uruguay during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Unfortunately, he was replaced by Guillermo Varela after the first round.
Ten Hag’s remarks on Pellistri
Ten Hag stated, “We have seen some physicality, he had some good movements, some good runs in behind, he has speed.”
He then added, “So he has to bring that in our game. I think he is a player who can play really good between the lines because he can be ball-secure, that he has to bring in our game.
“A little bit different, like a left-footed right winger we have with Antony and he is right-footed and his good chance he created was his cross for Wout Weghorst.”
Opinions about Pellstri
Really like Facundo Pellistri, got a lot of different tools both in transitions and standstill moments. Think we’d regret letting him go on a permanent.
— h (@htomufc) January 25, 2023
Fans of Manchester United are divided on the future of Pellstri, with some expressing concern that he may leave the club for another team. There is a growing sentiment among supporters that Pellstri has yet to reach his full potential and that it would be a shame to see him depart from United.
On the other hand, some fans believe that Pellstri may not be well-suited for English football and may have a better chance to shine in a league like La Liga with Valencia. While these supporters acknowledge that the Spanish league is not as popular as the English one, they argue that Pellistri may have a better chance to gain fame and recognition in Spain.
🚨🇺🇾 Facundo Pellistri has proposals from Italy, especially from Valencia. They really want to sign him on loan. There is also a chance for the player to stay at #MUFC. @FabrizioRomano @YouTube 🔴 pic.twitter.com/FPXWGYKBNC
— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) January 25, 2023
Recent statements by Manchester United coach Ten Hag have quashed speculation that player Pellistri may be leaving the team. Ten Hag has emphasised that Pellistri is an integral part of the squad, and it seems unlikely that he will move to Valencia as previously rumoured.
Fans of the club have also voiced their support for Pellistri, advocating for him to be given more playing time. They argue that his unique style of play has positively impacted the team dynamics during matches. This is especially crucial for United as they aim to maintain their success in both the Premier League and Champions League.
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