Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has sent a motivational message to Manchester United youngster Facundo Pellistri following Uruguay's surprise World Cup exit.
Pellistri, who is yet to make his Reds debut despite signing from Penarol over two years ago, featured in all three Group H matches for Uruguay at the World Cup in Qatar, but the South American outfit failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.
The 20-year-old started the opening match against South Korea and impressed off the bench against Portugal in the penultimate match. Uruguay boss Diego Alonso then brought him back into the starting line-up for the crucial match against Ghana on Friday.
ALSO READ: Van Dijk responds to Gakpo transfer links with Man United
Uruguay won the match 2-0 and looked set to be joining Portugal in the last-16, however, Wolves star Hwang Hee-Chan scored a stoppage-time winner for South Korea against the Selecao and sent the Asian side into the Round of 16 at La Celeste's expense.
United starlet Pellistri took to Instagram to express his pride at representing his country at a World Cup, while also opening up on the disappointment of exiting the tournament.
"My first World Cup. It was my dream to play one and I achieved it. Didn’t have the ending we wanted, but that’s football. So sad we didn’t achieve more. Thank you to everyone who supported! This continues, we will come back stronger!" he wrote on social media.
Former Liverpool striker and Uruguay teammate Suarez responded to Pellistri's Instagram post, saying: "We have to keep going, Facu. You will always have a rematch. Keep on giving yourself to the maximum always."
Given his involvement in the World Cup, Pellistri will not link-up with his United teammates who have headed to Spain for their warm-weather training camp. The Reds flew to Cadiz on Saturday ahead of two friendlies against Cadiz on Wednesday and Real Betis on Saturday to prepare for the resumption of the domestic season.
The 20-year-old will be hoping to feature for Erik ten Hag's side in their first competitive match back after the break in the campaign, which comes against Burnley in the Carabao Cup on December 21.
READ NEXT:
