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Facundo Pellistri 'wants permanent Manchester United exit'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 08 November 2022

Pellistri 'wants permanent Man United exit'

Manchester United youngster Facundo Pellistri is reportedly determined to leave the club on a permanent basis in the January transfer window.

The 20-year-old attacker moved to Old Trafford from Uruguayan outfit Penarol in October 2020, but he is yet to make his first-team debut for the Red Devils.

Pellistri featured 35 times across all competitions across two spells with La Liga club Alaves before returning to Man United over the summer.

However, the seven-cap Uruguay international has struggled to break into Erik ten Hag's senior side this season, watching on from the substitutes' bench 11 times across the Premier League and Europa League.

Manchester United's Facundo Pellistri in action against Derby County on July 18, 2021 © Reuters

According to Diario AS, Pellistri will seek a permanent exit from Old Trafford in the winter window in search of regular first-team football.

The report adds that heading out on loan for the second half of this season remains a possibility for Pellistri, but the attacker is against the idea of leaving temporarily.

Pellistri's agent Edgardo Lasalvia revealed last week that he expects his client to make a swift departure from Man United in the near future.

Speaking to ESPN, Lasalvia said: "I think that with a good World Cup, as we think he will have, his departure is imminent."

Earlier this year, Pellistri suggested that the 2022-23 campaign would be "very important" for his development as a senior player.

Manchester United's Facundo Pellistri in action for Alaves in March 2021 © Reuters

"Right now, I want to feel good again after the holidays, well-trained, more than anything because this year is very important both at club and national team level," the youngster told Ovacion.

"You have to be ready for everything and prepare well. I want to have the maximum continuity of minutes to try to arrive well.

"I'm not looking for a particular league. It's easy to say 'earn minutes' because nobody promises them to you, and you have to earn them. It's a complicated search, but I'm going to try to find the best option to play, show myself and feel good."

Despite a lack of first-team football, Pellistri is hoping to be included in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with manager Diego Alonso required to submit his final squad by November 13.