Manchester United have already welcomed players back for pre-season ahead of a busy month before the season starts.
All eyes will be on the youngsters in Manchester United’s travelling party, with a large group expected to travel.
Among the names who could impress are Kobbie Mainoo, Alvaro Fernandez and Amad – but don’t forget about Facundo Pellistri too.
The 21-year-old Uruguay international has been desperate for a chance to show what he can do, and he has form for pre-season highlights.
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Facundo Pellistri pre-season star
With Andreas Pereira sold last summer, previously dubbed the ‘pre-season Pirlo’, it could be Facundo Pellistri who emerges as the most likely to dazzle on tour.
Pellistri has scored in two successive pre-season years, first making a name for himself in 2021 with a goal in a win against Derby County.
His impressive strike saw fans compare him to Lionel Messi, Marca reported at the time. He was later loaned out to Alaves.
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Last season he did what most Manchester United players dream of; score a goal against Liverpool.
Pellistri netted in an easy win over Jurgen Klopp’s side, before suffering an injury against Atletico Madrid which saw him miss most of the first part of the season.
Since then, after starring at the World Cup, Pellistri has gone onto make his Manchester United full debut, even providing a couple of assists in his brief cameo appearances, and starting once in the Europa League.
The chance he needs
The one theme to his United career has been that he has not had enough playing time. This could change in pre-season, where he at least will get some minutes on the pitch.
Based on what we have seen briefly of Pellistri, you would not bet against him scoring for a third pre-season in a row and making it a hat-trick.
Whether this will be enough to leap into Ten Hag’s squad remains to be seen. A year on loan seems like the most likely path forward.