If you want an illustration of Manchester United’s confused transfer strategy over the past 18 months, look no further than Facundo Pellistri.
Pellistri signed from Penarol for £9 million in 2020. It was a momentous signing in that he was the club’s first signing direct from South America since 2013.
So far, not so good. Pellistri spent three months with United’s under-23s, and then has spent the last 12 months picking up experience at Alaves, a loan which now looks like it is wasting his time.
Manchester United let Pellistri down
Pellistri has started only six La Liga games this season and has not completed 90 minutes even once. Alaves hired a new manager in December, and he has not started a game since.
The winger told The Guardian that United had an option to recall him as he had played under 1,000 minutes so far this season. He has played only 593.
Alaves is not a particularly suitable club for Pellistri, that has been proven over the past year. He barely touches the ball in games as they see such little possession, and a relegation fight does not given him freedom to express himself.
He has no goals and no assists, despite grabbing three assists and one goal in seven under-23 games for United and showcasing his talent, also netting in pre-season for the first team.
This January was the ideal time to re-arrange a new loan for Pellistri. United did it with Reece Devine and Ethan Laird, and last season did so with Tahith Chong and James Garner mid-season. The MEN reported there was interest from Championship clubs in Pellistri during the window.
Instead United have chosen to leave him at Alaves to stew for the rest of the season, where not much is likely to change for him.
Straight recall should have been an option
It would not have been the worst option simply to recall Pellistri and add him to United’s first team squad.
Amad has been loaned out to Rangers for the rest of the season, and the Mason Greenwood developments leave United short at right wing.
Bringing Pellistri back would have been more beneficial for him, and after all, he is United’s player, why not let Ralf Rangnick take a close look at him?
Pellistri is good enough to start for Uruguay, earning a positive reception on his debut in a World Cup qualifier last week. He should have been an option for United.
All is not quite lost. There are a few European leagues with deadline still open, including Serbia, Poland, Austria, and Russia. It’s not too late for United to take him out of Alaves and re-assign him to a club where he could play more regularly as a starter.
At present it seems like United have simply forgotten about him, which says a lot about the club’s transfer strategy considering he was signed not very long ago.
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