Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been urged to give first-team opportunities to winger Facundo Pellistri by his Uruguay international teammate Ronald Araujo.
Pellistri has been on United’s books for two years after joining from Penarol but has yet to make a first-team appearance for the club under a succession of managers. He spent the past 18 months on loan at Spanish club Alaves, where he made 35 appearances without finding the net.
The 20-year-old was unable to help prevent the side’s relegation from La Liga but he has impressed in his breakthrough year at international level for Uruguay. He has been capped six times and is expected to make their World Cup squad.
Pellistri also was given an opportunity by Ten Hag in United’s pre-season, when he came on as a substitute to find the net in the 4-0 rout of Liverpool in July. However, he has been unable to force his way into the club’s first-team plans since the commencement of the campaign.
United are well-stocked when it comes to wide forwards, with Jadon Sancho and Antony established as regular starters, while Anthony Elanga and teenager Alejandro Garnacho are also capable of filling in those roles. This means Pellistri’s first-team opportunities will be limited.
However, Barcelona defender and Pellistri’s international teammate Araujo has described the winger’s level as “spectacular” and has called on him to be given his opportunity in the senior setup at Old Trafford.
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Araujo told El Pais, as per Somos Invictus : “I think Facundo Pellistri is surprising. Obviously, we know the quality that Fede Valverde, [Rodrigo] Bentancur, Darwin [Nunez] have… we all know the quality they have. But Facundo Pellestri surprised me quite a bit.
“Especially since he hadn’t been playing. And more because of the level that he gave in the national team, that he was spectacular. Besides, we understood each other very well on the right wing. Facundo was the one who surprised me the most, yes.”
Pellistri is part of the La Celeste squad for friendlies against Iran and Canada in the upcoming week and is likely to be play a part in both matches. He is hopeful of being named in the nation’s squad for the finals in Qatar despite his lack of regular playing time.
Meanwhile, former Uruguay international midfielder Gus Poyet has called on Pellistri to move away from United to find regular football, telling TeamTalk : "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."
