Facundo Pellistri has enjoyed a superb start after leaving Manchester United with the Premier League loanee showing why Granada wanted him ‘so much’ in the January transfer window.
By the admission of Matteo Tognozzi, the La Liga club’s highly-regarded sporting director, Facundo Pellistri turned down a number of different clubs in favour of a Granada side embroiled in a La Liga relegation battle.
If the early signs are anything to go by, Granada’s gain is Villarreal and LA Galaxy’s loss.
The Manchester United-owned winger has been a revelation so far, scoring and assisting during a scintillating performance in last weekend’s 3-3 draw at Barcelona.
Manchester United loanee shining in Spain
“In that last two games, we have seen (why we wanted) Facundo to be here so much. He was the profile of player we wanted,” Tognozzi says, via El Observador.
“He rejected many teams to come here.”
Pellistri, who cost Man United a cool £9 million from Penarol back in 2020, already looks like a potential game-changing addition for a Granada side who lost talismanic forward Bryan Zaragoza to Bayern Munich last month.
The presence of fellow Uruguay internationals Bruno Mendez and Matias Arezo certainly played a part in Pellistri’s decision to put pen to paper with the Nazaries too, a decision which already looks like the right one with the youngster starting both of the club’s last two La Liga matches.
A goal and an assist already for Facundo Pellistri
“I always wanted to come to Granada because of the conviction of the coaching staff,” Pellistri explains.
“I didn’t think twice and decided that Granada was the ideal place. I’ll contribute what I know on the field to ensure that we achieve our goals together.
“My adaptation was very easy. The good atmosphere in the dressing room and among the team-mates is real.”
It remains to be seen whether Pellistri has a long-term future at Man United. His agent indicated that much would depend on whether Erik ten Hag keeps his job, the Red Devils boss starting Pellistri just once in the Premier League despite the absences of Jadon Sancho and Antony in the first half of the current campaign.
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