Gus Poyet has urged Uruguay international Facundo Pellistri to leave Manchester United to bolster his World Cup hopes.
The 20-year-old has missed the start of the season after suffering a twisted ankle at the end of July in a pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid.
However, the former Penarol man is in the final stages of his recovery and the pacey winger will no doubt be looking to make his competitive senior Manchester United debut under Erik ten Hag.
With the timing and length of Pellistri’s injury seemingly thwarting a loan exit, the South American’s best chance of action under the former Ajax manager may come in the Europa League.
United’s number 28 has been named in the Europa League squad and he’ll be hoping to get minutes ahead of the winter World Cup which kicks off in two months time.
Gus Poyet urges Facundo Pellistri to leave Manchester United
Having spent the last 18 months, prior to the start of this season, on loan at Spanish side Alaves, Pellistri’s compatriot Poyet believes that the six-time Uruguay international needs to leave the Red Devils on loan to boost his World Cup prospects.
Speaking to the Metro, the former Sunderland manager, who is currently in charge of Greece, said: “Pellistri will struggle to get game time.
“It would be good for him to go somewhere and play, because the World Cup is around the corner and he is very important for the Uruguay team because the coach [Diego Alonso] has lots of faith in his ability, he’s a proper winger.
“He needs to find a place to play, like Luis Suarez who is playing at Nacional week in week out, training with the first team and getting game time three months before the World Cup, Pellistri should do something similar.”
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While Poyet is concerned about his fellow countrymen’s chances of featuring under Ten Hag, and the knock on effect that could have on his World Cup chances, Alonso picked Pellistri last season despite him barely featuring at Alaves.
Pellistri made just five appearances for Alaves in 2022.
While the summer transfer windows in Europe’s top five leagues have closed, Pellistri could still move on loan to the likes of Greece (September 15), Portugal and Ukraine (both September 22).