In a recent interview with Metro, former Chelsea and Tottenham ace Gus Poyet has advised 20-year-old winger Facundo Pellistri to leave Manchester United on emergency loan if he wants to boost his chances of playing in this year’s World Cup.
The Greece manager believes that Pellistri is not a part of Erik Ten Hag’s first team plans at Manchester United, and as a result, lack of playing time could deprive him of being a part of Uruguay’s World Cup squad in November.
‘Pellistri will struggle to get game time,’ Poyet told.
‘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.’
What’s Next For Pellistri?
Having come through the ranks at Penarol, Facundo Pellistri signed for Manchester United in October 2020 for a fee in the region of £7.6 million. Since then, he has had two loan spells at Spanish side Deportivo Alaves; however, with zero goal contributions in 35 appearances, he has failed to impress. The six-times Uruguay international’s progress has been further hampered after suffering a twisted ankle at the end of July in a pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid.
Pellistri can still move on loan to the likes of Portugal (September 15), Greece and Ukraine (both September 22). If a loan deal fails to materialise, his best chances of securing gametime may come in the Europa League and the cup fixtures.
(Stats from transfermarkt)
