Gus Poyet has pushed United prospect Facundro Pellistri to leave the club for the sake of his international future, citing concerns that Erik ten Hag will not play him.
The 20-year-old Facundro Pellostri was signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for £10 million from Penarol in 2020 after being recommended by the Norwegian’s ex-Old Trafford attack partner, Diego Forlan.
Pellistri scored in United’s 4-0 preseason triumph over Liverpool, although he has yet to make a senior appearance since moving from Uruguay to the Premier League. And Poyet is sure that the winger’s chances of playing for United are much lower now that Ten Hag is in charge.
“Pellistri will struggle to obtain game time,” the former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder predicted to Midnite. “It would be beneficial for him to go somewhere and play because the World Cup is approaching, and he is extremely vital for the Uruguay team because the coach [Diego Alonso] has a lot of faith in his talent, he’s a true winger.”
Although Pellistri hopes to make Uruguay’s World Cup team, he has returned to Old Trafford after failing to impress on loan in LaLiga, where he spent 18 months at Alaves without scoring a goal.
Given that Pellistri is currently on the fringes at United, Poyet has urged the youngster to follow the example of former Liverpool forward Luis Suarez, who is back playing after falling out of favour at Atletico Madrid – though it is unlikely that Pellistri will be able to leave Old Trafford before the World Cup kicks off in November, with most countries’ transfer windows now closed.
“He needs to find a place to play, like Luis Suarez who is playing at Nacional week in and week out, training with the first team and receiving game time three months before the World Cup,” Poyet added.
After impressing Solskjaer throughout pre-season, there was speculation that Pellistri would be given a chance to play under him last season. But the winger was finally loaned out, only months before Solskjaer was fired due to a poor run of form.