Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has hinted Facundo Pellistri could play a key role for the club in the second half of the campaign - despite being linked with an exit.
Pellistri has been on United’s books for two-and-a-half years after joining the Red Devils from Penarol but has yet to make a first-team appearance for the club under a succession of managers - despite being promised minutes.
He spent 18 months on loan at Spanish club Alaves, where he made 35 appearances without finding the net. However, he did impress for Uruguay at the World Cup – featuring in all three of their group stage matches and starting twice.
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 a four-goal 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.
Ten Hag has now signalled that Pellistri may be involved more in the second half of the campaign after gaining minutes in mid-season friendlies over the World Cup break after the winger returned to the camp following his spell with Uruguay, who were eliminated at the group stage.
"Two things. First, that goals can also come out of our own club," Ten Hag said of United's attacking issues, as he hinted at more opportunities for players at the club. "See (Alejandro) Garnacho, see (Anthony) Elanga, see Pellistri, who made a good impression on the World Cup and last week in the game against Everton and in training, so that is first.
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"But yes, we are aware we have lost a striker so I think we have to get a striker in but it has to be the right one and the right one needs to bring the quality into the team and not just add to the squad, because that gives you only problems. The criteria is high here at Man United."
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.
However, Pellistri’s international teammate Ronald Araujo – a defender with Barcelona – has already spoken about the winger’s “spectacular” level that came as a surprise to other players in the Uruguay camp.
Araujo told El Pais, as per Somos Invictus, back in September: “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.”
