Alaves president Alfonso Fernandez de Troconiz: 'Facundo Pellistri will improve in Spain'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 03 February 2021

Alaves president Alfonso Fernandez de Troconiz backs on-loan Manchester United attacker Facundo Pellistri to enjoy a successful spell at the club.

Alaves president Alfonso Fernandez de Troconiz is confident that the La Liga club will help on-loan Manchester United attacker Facundo Pellistri grow as a player.

Pellistri, who joined United from Uruguayan outfit Penarol last October, will spend the rest of the 2020-21 campaign in Spain, with El Glorioso beating a number of clubs to the 19-year-old's signature.

The teenager could make his debut for Abelardo's side against Real Valladolid on Friday, and the Basque club's president is expecting the South American to make his mark at Estadio de Mendizorroza.

"We have full confidence in him and this is why we really fought to get him in on loan," Troconiz told the Daily Mail. "We really think he can contribute a lot to us. We are fully aware he is a young player and he is beginning his European career and he will need to improve.

"But we think we are an ideal team for him to improve with because Alaves is a small club and I think this could favour his improvement. We are convinced that he is going to help us have a magnificent second part of the season."

Pellistri scored three times in eight appearances for United's Under-21s and Under-23s teams before leaving the English giants on loan in the final stages of the January window.