Manchester United were busy in the recent transfer window with outgoings, particularly on loan.
One club which experienced the benefits and drawbacks of this was Granada, who saw Manchester United cancel the loan deal for Alvaro Fernandez, who was sent to Benfica instead.
Granada ended up doing a second deal with Manchester United, signing Facundo Pellistri on January 31.
You can make the case that Granada are fortunate to get a go with a second Manchester United player, with Fernandez only selected to starting five La Liga games.
But they won the race for Pellistri regardless, with the Uruguayan happy to return to La Liga.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfer deals for January 2024, ins, outs, loan moves
Granada president admits Manchester United fandom
So why have La Liga strugglers Granada honed in on targeting Manchester United fringe players?
It is simply a case of smart recruitment, targeting players not quite good enough for the Red Devils starting line-up but good enough for the 19th placed ranked team in Spain?
Possibly – but there may be another factor too, as explained by Granada’s president Sophia Yang.
Yang explained in an interview with AS this week: “Years ago the Premier League was what was watched the most in China and I was a fan of Manchester United, but now it is only La Liga and Granada.”
She also boasts something which Manchester United certainly cannot say under the Glazers ownership.
“The club is financially autonomous, has no debt and is one of the few clubs that can say that. All data is public because we have a great commitment to transparency. All this budget has been reinvested in the club again, nothing goes to China.”
Pellistri faces uncertain future
Facundo Pellistri’s agent hit out at Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag this week, suggesting the winger has no future at the club while the Dutchman is in charge.
Perhaps correct, Pellistri’s task has been made even tougher by his agent’s comments, no doubt.
The loan can put him in the shop window for the summer, when United will re-assess his future.
But even if Pellistri were to have a strong loan, and Ten Hag be replaced as manager, there is no guarantee he would have a chance under a new boss either, and a departure this summer may be in his best interests, and United’s too.
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