Uruguay international Facundo Pellistri will leave Manchester United after the World Cup, according to the winger’s agent Edgardo Lasalvia.
The 20-year-old is yet to make his senior Red Devils debut despite signing for the club from Penarol over two years ago.
Prior to returning to Carrington in the summer, United’s number 28 had spent two separate loan spells that spanned 18 months with Spanish side Alaves.
The pacey South American has been on the United bench for the last nine games, but he’s yet to be summoned by Erik ten Hag and make his Red Devils bow.
With Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, Anthony Elanga and Alejandro Garnacho competing for United’s wide positions, Pellistri is realistically United’s seventh choice on the flanks.
Ten Hag was specifically asked when Pellistri would get a chance to stake his claim during his pre-match press conference before last Thursday’s 3-0 win against Sheriff Triaspol.
The former Ajax manager challenged the Uruguayan and Garnacho to prove to him in training that they deserve minutes in the first team.
But it was former Atletico Madrid youngster Garnacho who beat Pellistri to making his first senior start for the twenty-time league champions, and the Argentina wonderkid moren than grabbed his chance against Sheriff with an eye-catching display.
Facundo Pellistri will leave Manchester United after the World Cup, says agent
Pellistri, who scored in pre-season against Liverpool, may have gone out on loan had he not suffered an ankle injury against Atletico Madrid in the last game of our pre-season tour.
But while he looks set to be included in Diego Alonso’s Uruguay squad for the World Cup, Pellistri’s agent has said that he’ll have meeting with Manchester United to discuss his client’s future.
But in an interview with ESPN Uruguay, it seems Lasalvia has already made his mind up on securing an exit for Pellistri who Lasalvia predicts will put himself in the shop window by shining in Qatar.
“I think with a good World Cup, as we think he’s going to have, his departure is imminent,” Lasalvia told ESPN.
Lasalvia doesn’t give away whether he’s going to pursue a permanent or loan move for Pellistri, but with just one EFL Trophy appearance to his name this season for the club’s under-21s, a January move makes total sense especially considering the strength in depth United have in the wide areas when everyone is fit and available.
But if Pellistri does light up the World Cup like his client has boldly predicted, a permanent exit is unlikely to be sanctioned unless Manchester United deem the offer too good to refuse.